A Conversation with Home Care Association of Florida Executive Director Bobby Lolley about the COVID-19 Crisis

The home health community works tirelessly to protect patients, front-line home health workers, and the communities we serve during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. As a community of highly skilled professionals caring for vulnerable populations with disabilities and multiple chronic conditions, home healthcare agencies are uniquely qualified to treat individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. And with more Americans becoming vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, home health represents a safe and available care setting for at-risk populations.

The Partnership recently spoke with Bobby Lolley, Executive Director of the Home Care Association of Florida, about how home health providers in his state are responding during this public health crisis:

We asked Bobby the following questions:

• What are your overall observations about how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted home health patients and providers in Florida? (0:15)
• Some of the patients most at risk of COVID-19 transmission, such as older Medicare beneficiaries and those with multiple chronic conditions, are also the most in need of home health. How are home health agencies in your state reaching patients right now? (3:02)
• In addition to your existing patients, I imagine home health could help others during this crisis. What role can home health providers play for those most at-risk populations who are more vulnerable to COVID-19? (4:57)
• I’ve seen some stories on how home health can provide relief to hospitals who are either experiencing or preparing for a rapid influx of patients. Have you seen examples of this in your state? (6:38)
• What are some of the biggest barriers or issues frontline home health and hospice providers are reporting? (8:49)
• What more can Congress and the Administration do to support home health providers? (11:00)

While Congress and CMS have taken significant steps to provide regulatory relief to enable expanded access to home health and ensure patient safety, more must be done to fully unleash home health in the fight against COVID-19. Send an email now asking your policymakers to optimize the use of this skilled care during the pandemic.