The National Association for Home Care and Hospice and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization announced their intention to combine in June and began integrating operations the following month. Since then, NAHC President William Dombi and NHPCO CEO Ben Marcantonio have been leading the alliance, along with the transition board.
In the news release, Alliance Transition Board Chair Ken Albert cited Landers' experience shaping federal and state policy as a critical asset to the new organization. The NAHC and NHPCO have been battling the Health and Human Services Department over home health and non-medical home care reimbursements.
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The NAHC sued HHS and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services last year over a change in the way home health rates are calculated. A federal judge dismissed the case in April, but the NAHC said before the merger that it may refile the lawsuit.
The trade groups have also opposed a CMS rule that will require non-medical home care companies to use 80% of Medicaid reimbursements for worker wages. That regulation will take effect in six years.
