Championing Home Care: Bayada’s Pioneering Advocacy Model & Navigating a Critical Juncture for the Industry
The home care landscape is facing unprecedented challenges. Reimbursement cuts, budgetary uncertainties, and increasing demand are converging to create a precarious situation for agencies and, crucially, the patients thay serve. But one organization, Bayada Home Health Care, isn’t simply reacting to these pressures – they’re actively shaping the conversation and fighting for a sustainable future for the industry.
Bayada’s success isn’t accidental. It’s rooted in a forward-thinking approach to government affairs and advocacy, one that goes far beyond conventional lobbying. As David totaro, bayada’s Chief Government Affairs Officer, explains, their strategy is built on a three-pronged approach. Let’s explore how Bayada is leading the charge and what the industry can learn from their model.
A Proactive Approach: Beyond Policy to Persuasion
For years, many organizations focused solely on developing strong policy.bayada recognized a critical missing piece: the ability to effectively sell those policies. This realization led to the creation of one of the first dedicated government affairs roles within a home-based care organization.
Totaro outlines Bayada’s “advocacy stool” with three key legs:
* Direct Lobbying: Engaging directly with policymakers, a standard practice.
* Policy Growth: Crafting well-researched and impactful policy proposals.
* Grassroots engagement: Mobilizing a broad base of support – patients, families, and community members - to amplify the message.
This third leg, grassroots engagement, is where Bayada truly differentiates itself.
Hearts for Home Care: Empowering Advocates at Every Level
Four years ago, Bayada understood the power of consumer voices.This led to the creation of Hearts for Home Care, the epicenter of their grassroots efforts. Today, this powerful network boasts over 350 trained ambassadors.
Here’s how it works:
* Dedicated Ambassadors: Each Bayada service office has a designated ambassador.
* Complete Training: Ambassadors are thoroughly educated on key issues facing the home care industry.
* Rapid Mobilization: They’re prepared to quickly engage their teams when advocacy is needed.
This unique structure ensures a consistent and impactful voice, something Totaro believes no other organization currently replicates.
Demonstrating ROI: Advocacy as a Strategic Investment
Bayada doesn’t view advocacy as a cost center; it’s a strategic investment. The results speak for themselves.
* $500 Million in incremental Revenue: Through successful reimbursement increases, Bayada has generated over half a billion dollars in additional revenue.
* 14:1 Return on Investment: for every dollar invested in government affairs and advocacy, Bayada has seen a $14 return.
This remarkable ROI underscores the financial benefits of proactive advocacy, allowing Bayada to reinvest in crucial areas like:
* Nurse and aide recruitment & retention
* Improved access to care for patients
Building a Nationwide Movement: Beyond Bayada’s Walls
Perhaps most impressively, Bayada has successfully broadened the scope of its advocacy efforts beyond its own organization.
* 12,200+ Members: Hearts for Home Care has grown to over 12,200 members.
* Diverse Membership: Over 55% of members are not bayada employees. They represent other home care companies, businesses, and, most importantly, consumers.
* Ambitious Growth Target: Bayada aims to reach 15,000 members by next year, solidifying its position as a national voice for home care advocacy.
This demonstrates a commitment to strengthening the entire industry, not just Bayada’s bottom line.
Navigating Current Challenges: A Critical Moment for Home Care
Despite these successes, the future isn’t without importent hurdles. Totaro highlights two major threats on the federal level:
* Medicare Cuts: Significant Medicare cuts are looming, with the final rule from CMS expected in early November.
* Medicaid Cuts: Medicaid cuts are scheduled to take effect in 2026, further straining the system.
These cuts are already impacting states. Totaro points to North Carolina and Pennsylvania as particularly concerning examples:
* North Carolina: Recent across-the-board Medicaid cuts of 3-10% are
