News Releases

MANHATTAN, KAN. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) has received the Kansas Home Care Association’s (KHCA’s) 2014 Legislator of the Year Award for his long record of leadership on initiatives that support and improve Kansans’ access to home care and hospice services. Sen. Moran is the sole recipient of KHCA’s Legislator of the Year for 2014.

“Access to quality, affordable health care determines whether Kansans can remain in their homes and communities as they grow older,” Sen. Moran said. “The special way of life we live in Kansas would not be possible without home care and hospice services in our communities. I am honored to receive this award and proud to support home care and hospice services in Kansas. I will continue working to see that federal policies reflect the value of this care in Kansas communities, and I am grateful to have KHCA as a partner in this effort.”

“It was our privilege this year to honor Senator Jerry Moran as our Legislator of the Year, at our annual meeting,” Kansas Home Care Association Executive Director Jane Kelly said. “Senator Moran has consistently supported home care and hospice in Kansas. He has been on visits where he has witnessed first-hand the care our providers give and the time it takes them just to fulfill the requirements CMS makes in order for them to provide the care and be reimbursed for it. We are proud that he showcased Kansas Home Care when he hosted CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner in Kansas to tour healthcare facilities and providers. We believe the Senator understands that home care is an economical way to care for vulnerable and elderly patients, and understands it is where people want to be when receiving that care. We appreciate his support and look forward to our continuing relationship with Senator Moran and his staff in working for the home care and hospice community.”

Sen. Moran’s efforts to preserve access to home care and hospice services in Kansas include sponsorship of legislation to improve federal regulations to better reflect the realities of rural health care by enabling qualified health care providers to certify patients for home care and hospice services under Medicare. Additionally, he sponsored legislation to provide incentives for home health agencies to use remote patient monitoring to improve care of seniors and reduce Medicare costs. 

Sen. Moran has urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider proposals that would cut Medicare reimbursement for home health services and potentially jeopardize home health care access for patients in Kansas. In 2012, he hosted the current CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner on a tour of Kansas health care facilities to visit with a variety of providers across the state. During this tour, Senator Moran and Administrator Tavenner observed a home health care visit to witness firsthand how home care professionals provide care and support to patients in their homes to aid their recoveries and avoid costly inpatient hospital stays.

KHCA is a member organization of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice and was established in 1973 to provide leadership, support, and services to the home care industry in Kansas.

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