Home Health Care Associations

The home health care industry has grown tremendously since 2000. Home health and hospice care has become commonplace across the country, and with insurance companies and hospitals extending their coverage and service for home health care, it likely will continue to grow. Home health care associations have been established at the local, state and national levels to help ensure quality and uniform care services for patients, medical staff and businesses.

National Home Health Care Associations

• National home health care associations, such as The National Association of Homehealth Care, represent the needs of all involved within the industry. Aside from publications and public education outreach efforts, these associations are also active within the political system by proposing and influencing legislation designed to make home and hospice care as efficient, prevalent and cost effective as possible.

State Home Health Care Associations

• State-level home health care associations, such as the Home Care Association of New Jersey, provide education outreach efforts and legislative and informative programs within state government. In addition to these programs, many also offer grants, home health care business resources and insurance plans for participating members. Most of these associations are affiliated with one or more national home health care associations.

Membership Information and Benefits

• Most home health care associations allow medical staff, home health care business owners and medical centers to join their association. There typically are yearly membership fees and additional fees for those associations that offer extra services or insurance plans. The benefits of these associations include access to networking opportunities, journals and other educational publications, discounts at partner businesses and budget-based insurance policies.

Continuing Education Programs

• Nearly all home health care associations provide or accredit institutions with continuing education programs. In some cases, these programs are provided through a third-party educational institution, while others involve a weekend training and certification program. These programs are designed to ensure local, state and federal accreditation. In some cases, training is provided at no charge to familiarize members with new technologies and practices within the industry.