Welcome

...to this special Hurricane Katrina issue of Stephen Tweed's Leading Home Care Report. This special report is for CEOs and senior executives of America's leading home care companies. It is published in response to the recovery efforts from Hurricane Katrina by Leading Home Care ... a Tweed Jeffries company for our clients, friends, and advocates who want to provide assistance and support to home care in the disaster states.

Warren Hebert, Executive Director of the Home Care Association of Louisiana estimates that there were 91 home health care agencies with 3900 employees serving nearly 21,000 patients directly affected in and around New Orleans. "There are 47 agencies inside the New Orleans levy system with 2000 employees service approximately 10,000 patients," says Hebert. "They have all been closed by the effects of the flooding. There are 44 agencies outside the levy with 1900 employees and nearly 10,000 patients who have been affected in some way."

There is no word yet on the number of agencies affected in Alabama and Mississippi.

The Hurricane Katrina Homecare Recovery Fund and the associated recovery center opened today in New Iberia, Louisiana. The home care associations of Louisiana (HCLA), Mississippi (MAHC), and the Home Care Association of Alabama have collaborated to open the recovery account & center, both aimed at assisting home care employees and their agencies. Donations should be tax deductible, as the 501-C3 organization is being associated with the Foundation for Homecare and Hospice. Thanks to the NAHC for making that possible

The Hurricane Katrina Homecare Recovery Center is in New Iberia, Louisiana. The 2000 sq. foot office, 110 miles west of New Orleans, will provide work space at no cost to displaced homecare agencies to maintain and reconstitute their businesses electronically. Along with necessary office furniture, equipment, computers, high speed internet access, phone lines, a receptionist, etc., the Center will host visits for Palmetto GBA assistance and possible CMS visits. Public health and disaster response specific to home health, will be provided to agencies by RBC Limited of New York. RBC is recognized as the nation's expert in homecare disaster response.

Friends from around the country have offered to send items needed to furnish the office. Donations of office equipment, furniture, computers, and other necessities should be orchestrated through the HomeCare Association of Louisiana at 800/283- 4252.

Ochsner Homecare Employee, Julie Foley, Named Executive Director of Hurricane Katrina HomeCare Recovery Center - Julie Foley, RN, CHCE, a New Orleans resident, was hired today to serve as the Executive Director of the Hurricane Katrina Homecare Recovery Center. Foley, a Certified Home and Hospice Care Executive, is Assistant Administrator of Ochsner Home Health Corporation, and is on loan to the Center while she is temporarily displaced from New Orleans. Foley will facilitate the processing of donations of office equipment, furniture, and other resources needed for the Center. She will also assist with communications related to services provided for her fellow homecare providers from areas impacted by Katrina. Julie and her children are temporarily living with family friends in Youngsville.

Her husband, John, is a Captain with the New Orleans Fire Department and is still stationed in New Orleans assisting with evacuation and fire issues in the city.

Hurricane Katrina Home Care Recovery Fund

223 E. Main St.

New Iberia, LA 705560

Your tax deductible donation will be used to support the efforts to restore home care services to the residents of those areas affected by Katrina.

Governor BLANCO, ordered that the Louisiana state licensure laws, rules, and regulations for medical professionals and personnel are hereby suspended for those medical professionals and personnel from other states offering medical services in Louisiana to those needing medical services as a result of this disaster provided that said out-of-state medical professionals and personnel possess current state medical licenses in good standing in their respective states of licensure and that they practice in good faith and within the reasonable scope of his or her skills, training or ability.

HCLA Hurricane Information Forum

The Task Force agreed on a plan which includes the following: writing to the Governors of the affected states to classify home care personnel as emergency responders; waiving licensure requirements so doctors, nurses and aides from other states can work and be paid for helping out in the respective states; and asking that home care personnel be given priority access to gasoline if it is rationed.

Halamandaris wrote letters to Secretary Mike Leavitt and CMS Administrator asking waivers of certain conditions of participation and exceptions to certain payment rules.

Those who want to volunteer to serve by traveling to the area should contact Barbara Citarella at rbc@netstep.com.

Financial contributions should be made to the Red Cross or the Salvation Army.

The full story is available on the NAHC website which will include regular updates on the progress of the Task Force.

NAHC Hurricane Story

We will share your story and photos with interested home care readers across the United States.

Meet the entire Leading Home Care Team