Provider Member
Manual
August 2014
Home Care Association of New Hampshire
Member Manual
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.GENERAL ASSOCIATION INFORMATION
Staff List
History of the Association
Mission Statement and Values Statement
Code of Ethics
Member Benefits Checklist
2.ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS AND POLICIES
General Policies for Members
HCANH By-Laws
Provider Membership and Dues Policies
3.PLANNING
Strategic Plan
4.THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Roles, Responsibilities, and Expectations of Board Members
Current HCANH Board Members and Officers
5.COMMITTEES, TASK FORCES & SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
Meeting Schedules
Committees and Task Forces
Special Interest Groups
- GOVERNMENT RELATIONS PROGRAM
Granite State Home Health Association
Publications
Legislative Policy Statements
7.EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS & SERVICES
Educational Programs and Conferences
Education Policies
Lending Library Resources
8.OTHER MEMBER SERVICES
Group Purchase Opportunities
Publications
9. WEB SITE ACCESS
Web Site Access Instructions
Job Posting Instructions
1. General Association Information
Introduction
The Home Care Association of New Hampshire (HCANH) Member Manual has been created as a reference guide to the Association and its services. Members are encouraged to keep the manual up to date as revisions are provided and to keep meeting minutes, publications and other materials in the appropriate sections of the manual for easy reference.
If you have any questions about the Association, please do not hesitate to call the HCANH office at
1-800-639-1949 or 603-225-5597, or email staff (below).
Association Staff
Gina Balkus, CEO
Provides staff leadership of the Association, oversees implementation of all HCANH policies and programs and is registered with the Secretary of State’s Office as a lobbyist for Granite State Home Health Association, HCANH’s government relations affiliate. Gina serves as the chief spokesperson for the Association, along with the President, and represents the Association in dealings with the various state government offices, the Legislature, NH’s Washington delegation, and other industry groups. She attends all Board and Membership meetings, most committee and task force meetings and sits on numerous committees on the state and regional levels. Gina oversees the work of staff, consultants and contractors employed by the Association.
Chloe Roe, OfficeManager
Oversees office management, bookkeeping and invoicing, and day-to-day operations. Chloe is the primary contact person on workers compensation program matters and other group purchasing programs. Chloeoversees meeting and conference registration, membership renewals and applications, and other member-related functions.
Leslie Hammond, Public Relations and Marketing Specialist
Leslie Hammond came to the Home Care Association earlier this year to continue branding and marketing efforts for all of the member home care agencies in New Hampshire. She is responsible for HCANH’s website, as well as developing initiatives to enhance the visibility of home healthin New Hampshire. Leslie has held public relations andpublic policypositions with the Vermont Health Care Association and the Alzheimer’s Association of Vermont and New Hampshire.
Valerie Acres, Sheehan Phinney Capitol Group, Contract Lobbyist
Oversees home health issues in the New Hampshire Legislature for Granite State Home Health Association. She monitors selected state legislation and coordinates advocacy efforts on behalf of the Association, and writes the GSHHA Legislative Bulletin, produced monthly during state legislative sessions.
Association Office Hours and Location
HCANH is located at 8 Green Street-Suite 2, in Concord, New Hampshire. The office is on the first floor, with the entrance at the side of the building (accessed through the parking lot). Office hours are Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. The Association is able to accommodate Board and other small meetings of up to 12 people. Double parking in our lot is allowed during Board and committee meetings, but those who do so may be asked to move in order to allow our second floor tenant to come and go.
Parking is limited. Limited parking is available on the premises. There are eight parking slots, of which three are reserved for HCANH's second floor tenants. Parking is available for two-hour periods on side streets. Double parking in our lot is allowed during Board and committee meetings, but those who do so may be asked to move in order to allow our second floor tenant to come and go. There are two parking garages within walking distance. One parking garage is off North Main Street and has an entrance from School Street and Warren Street. The other has entrances from both Green Street and North State Street.
Directions to the Association Office
HCANH is located at 8 Green St., Concord. The building is a tan colonial with white trim. The Association occupies the first floor of the building, and the entrance to the office is on the parking lot side.
COMING FROM THE SOUTH - Travel north on 93 to Exit 13. At end of ramp turn left on South Main Street. Continue on South Main to Pleasant Street. Take left on Pleasant Street to Green Street (second set of lights). Turn right on Green Street. HCANH is the second building on the right.
COMING FROM MAINE - Travel Route 4 to 393. At end of 393 turn left onto North Main Street. Continue on North Main Street to Pleasant Street (fourth set of lights). Turn right on Pleasant Street to Green Street (second set of lights). Turn right on Green Street. HCANH is the second building on the right.
COMING FROM WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VERMONT - Travel south on 89 to Exit 2 to Clinton Street. Travel to end of Clinton Street. At set of lights turn left on South Street. Continue through next set of lights (intersection with Pleasant St.) and HCANH is second building on right. (South Street becomes Green Street when you go through the set of lights.)
COMING FROM THE NORTH - Travel south on 93 to Exit 14 to Bridge Street, turn right. (Bridge St. becomes Centre St.) At fourth set of lights turn left onto Green Street. Drive about 4 blocks down on the left, the last buildingon the left before the next stoplight (at Pleasant St.).
History of the Association
The Association was formed in 1974 as a result of the merger of two organizations, the New Hampshire Home Care Association and the Bi-State Community Health Project. The new organization, the Community Health Care Association, was comprised of agency CEOs, Board Members of member agencies and funding sources.
In the early eighties, the Association reorganized and restricted the Board of Directors to CEOs of member agencies and exclud proprietary agencies from membership. The Association formed a second 501(c)(3) organization to engage in research and development activities in the area of home care. Known as Home Care Resource Development, Inc., this entity was ultimately dissolved in 1997.
During the 1980’s, the Association’s successes included influencing the New Hampshire Legislature to fund maternal/child health care benefits and to institute the licensure of home health care providers. During this period, the Medicare Fiscal Intermediary started to deny Medicare claims for reimbursement in large numbers. The Associationworked successfully to protect access to Medicare home health services, and went on to lobby for and obtain an increase in Medicaid rates for home health care in the late 1980’s.
Between 1988 and the early 1990’s, the home care industry experienced major growth in service delivery, as well as some consolidation of agencies and diversification into related services. In 1992 Association members voted to extend membership to all licensed providers of in-home services including for-profits. Also during this period, the Association worked on the development of a concept which came to be called the “Network.” The idea behind the Network was to promote uniform standards of care and negotiate contracts with major funding sources on behalf of non-profit, full-service agencies. The complexity of the issues and controversy about its merit and feasibility caused the Association to abandon the project in 1992.
In 1993, the Association purchased an office building several blocks from the State House, where Board,committee and other small group meetings are held. This move also served to heighten the visibility of the Association in the capital.
Since the mid 1990’s, Association priorities have been in the areas of government relations, education, and public information. Initiatives since then have resulted in important Medicaid legislation, external communications and media relations, and collaborative ventures with other health care provider groups. In 1997 the Association created the Granite State Home Health Association (GSHHA) as an affiliated corporation under section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code to handle its increased lobbying activities.In the late 1990s, the Association’s attention focused again on Medicaid rates, achieving significant increases in 1999, the first upgrade in 10 years. At the same time, GSHHA worked for changes in the Interim Payment System (IPS) for Medicare, while HCANH supported members’ transition to prospective payment (PPS) under Medicare.
In the first years of the new millenium, HCANH’s priorities included: workforce shortage, technology, long term care, emergency preparedness, and the image and visibility of home health care, along with the continuing challenges of adequate payments, particularly in Medicaid. After several years of unsuccessfully pursuing improved Medicaid rates, HCANH filed suit against the state in April of 2005 under state law passed in 1997 (at the behest of the Association) that requires the state to establish and maintain rates that “better reflect the average cost of care.” The Association entered into a settlement agreement with the state in July 2005, and ultimately negotiated a new rate structure and rate-setting methodology. New Medicaid rules including this methodology were adopted in March 2008. However, continuing state budget limitations led the legislature to suspend the rules and even reduce provider rates in 2010.
On the Medicare side, GSHHA has advocated to improve the application of the wage index, eliminate across-the-board payment reductions in favor of targeted reimbursement revisions, institute policies to address fraud and abuse, and ensure home care’s proper place under healthcare reform initiatives.
Mission Statement
The Home Care Association of New Hampshire is a membership organization which enhances the ability of agencies providing home health care to deliver quality services to New Hampshire residents. The Association carries out this mission through education, networking, leadership, and public policy advocacy.
Values Statement
Home Care Association of New Hampshire is guided by its core values in everything it does, in the programs and services it offers, and in its relationships with and among members and with its customers in the external environment.
COMMUNICATIONWe believe in active listening and open and honest dialogue.
COOPERATIONWe believe in mutual respect for the diversity of our membership. We believe that through collaboration we enhance the strength and capacity of the association to fulfill its mission.
CUSTOMER-ORIENTEDWe believe in seeking out and being responsive to the needs and expectations of our internal and external customers. When the needs of different customers conflict, we believe in seeking resolution through prioritizing and consensus decision-making.
EXCELLENCEWe believe in defining and achieving excellence, striving to deliver service that meets and exceeds these high standards, and working to continuously improve the quality of our services.
INNOVATIONWe believe in anticipating and participating in changes in the health care system that affect home care consumers and providers, in being flexible and creative in designing responses to the changing environment, and in implementing responses in a dynamic and progressive manner.
INTEGRITYWe believe in the ethical values of honesty, public and mutual trust, and reciprocal responsibility.
LEADERSHIPWe believe in creating and articulating a clear direction for the role of home care in New Hampshire’s health care system, communicating our vision and values, and aligning our behavior with our values.
LEARNINGWe believe that given full, accurate and objective information, individuals and organizations make better decisions. To that end, we believe in education and research as a means for agencies and individuals to learn more about home care and to achieve the leadership, innovation and excellence we seek.
Approved by Board of Directors 10/13/95
Code of Ethics
The Provider Members of the Home Care Association of New Hampshiredo hereby pledge to abide by the following Code of Ethics:
To provide the highest level of quality of care in the area of home health care services.
To serve all individuals regardless of race, creed, national origin, sex, handicap, sexual preference or reason of illness.
To honor all patient rights and to explain all patient responsibilities as defined in state laws.
To fully cooperate with all other home care providers and other agencies, putting the patients' needs first in order to assure comprehensive services to patients and their families.
To abide by all Federal, state and local laws and regulations which govern the home health care industry.
To respect the confidential nature of the patient-provider relationship and not to disclose any information without proper authorization, except as required by law.
To present oral and written public statements which fairly represent programs, services, benefits, costs and agency capability.
To provide patients with a forum to voice grievances and suggest changes in service or staff without fear of restraint or discrimination.
To act in good faith; to be honest, truthful and fair to all concerned.
Adopted by the Board of Directors on December 10, 1993
Membership Benefits
Membership Category
ProviderAffiliateIndividual
Communications and Information:
Data Collection & Analysis
Email Newsletter, "Newsnotes"
Membership Meetings
Discounted Publications
Member Listserves
Monthly “ Best Practices” Newsletter
Education and Training:
Special Interest Groups
Networking Opportunities
Registration Discounts to Association Programs
Leadership and Participation:
Eligibility for Service on Board of Directors
Voting Privileges
Committees and Task Forces
Participation in Grants & Projects
Legislation and Advocacy:
Appointment to State Policy Committees
Legislative "Bulletin"
Legislative "Alerts" and Advocacy Initiatives
Visibility and Other Benefits:
Listing in Online Home Care Directory
Listing on online job search
Group Purchasing (Workers Comp Insurance)
Discounted Advertising Fees
Discounted Exhibitor Fees
Sponsorship of Events
Available at no fee Fee Charged
DESCRIPTION OF
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
The following is a further explanation of the membership benefits of the Home Care Association of New Hampshire. PROVIDERS receive all benefits listed below while AFFILIATE and INDIVIDUAL members have limited privileges.
COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION:
Involvement in data collection projects and access to survey results, including annual wage and salary survey, workforce turnover and vacancy survey
Up-to date industry news in HCANH's "Newsnotes" (e-mail only), published 2-4 times per month
Interaction with home health care leaders at periodic meetings for home care CEOs and senior managers
Information about home health care, with a focus on developments affecting state and federal policy, through quarterly publication Homefront
Participation on HCANH’s listservers, including general listserver, wound care, marketing and clinical groups
Best practices information published monthly in the “Best Practices” Newsletter
EDUCATION AND TRAINING:
Interest group gatherings (clinical managers, CQI managers, wound care specialists and others) for networking, project work and in-service programming
Reduced fees for quality, affordable programs presented at seminars, workshops and conferences throughout the year, including the Northern New England Home Care Conference jointly sponsored by the Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire associations, and the Northeast Home Health Leadership Summit
Access to audio conferences and web-based education at significant discounts through HCANH partnership with other state and national organizations
LEADERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION:
Eligibility to serve on HCANH Board of Directors
Right to vote in HCANH elections and business sessions
Opportunity to serve on HCANH standing committees and task forces
Priority for active participation and involvement in special grants and projects
LEGISLATION AND ADVOCACY:
Appointments to state and national legislative and regulatory committees as part of active participation in governmental affairs
Access to timely legislative information through "Alerts" and involvement in pivotal activity throughout the legislative session
Periodic recap of ongoing legislative activity through "Legislative Bulletins"
VISIBILITY AND OTHER BENEFITS:
Free listing in searchable database on HCANH website
Free job listing service on HCANH’s website
Opportunity to be featured in HCANH media releases
Exposure and promotion through discounted advertising and exhibitor fees and full or partial sponsorship of events
Access to HCANH’s workers compensation insurance program, and group purchasing of other products and services
2. Association By-Laws and Policies
By-Laws
The By-Laws are reviewed at least once every three years. They were last amended in June 2011, and a current copy follows.
Anti-Trust Statement
Because of federal and state anti-trust laws, certain topics are not proper subjects for discussion at any HCANH functions. Our members are competitors and any action or agreement which may eliminate, restrict or govern competition among members or their colleagues could be a violation of anti-trust laws. Those violating the anti-trust laws are subject to severe criminal civil penalties.
This means that members must not discuss any items falling within the realm of competitive practices, such as current or future prices or charges; discounts for cash payment; terms of service; staff compensation; profit levels; credit terms; or refusal to deal with a particular third-party payor or medical equipment vendor. Members are reminded to adhere strictly to these guidelines during all HCANH functions to protect themselves and the Association from liability.