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HOme Care in the News
Texas families could lose at-home nursing under stricter Medicaid rule

Texas families could lose at-home nursing under stricter Medicaid rule

Some children who receive private duty nursing, a more continuous type of medical care in their homes, could lose their ability to live at home if an HHSC rule change goes into effect.

A woman’s fight to escape the hospital shows Medicaid’s limits for disabled Texans

A woman’s fight to escape the hospital shows Medicaid’s limits for disabled Texans

Staffing shortages and mismanaged care can delay when Texans on some Medicaid programs are discharged from hospitals. This can cost the state more and take a toll on patients and caregivers.

Rachel Hammon: A Homecare and Hospice Nurse’s Perspective on Healthcare

Rachel Hammon: A Homecare and Hospice Nurse’s Perspective on Healthcare

We hear a homecare and hospice nurse’s perspective on healthcare from Rachel Hammon on this episode of the Perspectives on Healthcare Podcast with Rob Oliver.

There’s no place like home for Houston children with disabilities

There’s no place like home for Houston children with disabilities

January 4, 2024 - Private Duty Nursing (PDN), which is care provided in the home by nurses with specialized training for medically fragile children that allows these families to remain at home and out of hospitals or other institutions for routine, day-to-day care.

Nursing shortage: Pearland mother pushes for pay increases to keep private-duty nurses employed

Nursing shortage: Pearland mother pushes for pay increases to keep private-duty nurses employed

PEARLAND, Texas – A nursing shortage in Texas is hurting children with multiple disabilities. “Homecare is not getting the funding they need to keep our children home and safe,” said Caroline Cheevers.

Texas dealing with a serious shortage of in-home caretakers

Texas dealing with a serious shortage of in-home caretakers

AUSTIN — Texas dealing with a serious shortage of in-home caretakers. Click above to watch this video news segment.

Elderly, disabled Texans wanting to stay in their homes threatened by low home care pay

Elderly, disabled Texans wanting to stay in their homes threatened by low home care pay

AUSTIN — For 40 hours a week, Angela Blankenship takes care of Rick Frame, who’s been paralyzed from the neck down since a 1999 motorcycle accident.She helps him eat, bathe and move, allowing the former tool designer to stay in his Arlington home.

Nursing Shortage Puts Medically Fragile Children at Risk, Spurs Calls for Change

Nursing Shortage Puts Medically Fragile Children at Risk, Spurs Calls for Change

Analicia Brokloff just wanted to take her daughter home. Her 2-year-old, Mila, was ready to be discharged from UC Davis Children’s Hospital in Sacramento after having a lung infection.

Texas Lege can right a wrong and help fund medically fragile children with disabilities

Texas Lege can right a wrong and help fund medically fragile children with disabilities

Texas was one of the biggest beneficiaries of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), receiving roughly $862 million dollars in Medicaid funding from the federal government in 2022 according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Shortage of in-home nurses leaves kids waiting in hospital beds. ‘The entire system is feeling the p

Shortage of in-home nurses leaves kids waiting in hospital beds. ‘The entire system is feeling the p

Ricardo Ruiz could have left the hospital two months ago. Instead, the toddler waited while his family searched for a nurse who could help care for him at home.

How our Statesman investigation led lawmakers to take action on care for the disabled

How our Statesman investigation led lawmakers to take action on care for the disabled

After years of ignoring life-threatening problems in the state’s catastrophically underfunded system of home and community care for people with disabilities, lawmakers vowed this week to take action to improve safety for disabled clients and raise pay for the caretakers they depend on.

Low pay leading to less home care workers to help disabled, elderly people

Low pay leading to less home care workers to help disabled, elderly people

December 27, 2022 - Shirley Montalvo, who has quadriplegia, is proud of her independence, but she relies on a caregiver that helps her live her life and get ready to go out and work. She’s been waiting months to find someone to help her full-time.

Texas Legislature should boost private duty nursing rates

Texas Legislature should boost private duty nursing rates

December 25, 2022 - At least 10 Texas families won’t be spending the holidays at home this year. Instead, loved ones will gather in hospitals across the state to be with their medically fragile children – a sad scenario that could be avoided.

Honor Home Care Month by stepping up for Texas patients: Rachel Hammon

Honor Home Care Month by stepping up for Texas patients: Rachel Hammon

November 18, 2022 - Home care is more than health care. It’s a mother’s sigh of relief when a trusted nurse enters her home to ensure safe and effective care for her medically complex child, or a husband holding his wife’s hand as she receives comfortable end-of-life care in the bed they’ve shared for decades.

'The worst compensated job in Texas' | Texas is facing a worsening home caregiver shortage

'The worst compensated job in Texas' | Texas is facing a worsening home caregiver shortage

October 28, 2022 - For more than two decades, Gene Rodgers has depended on a community-based caregiver to come into his home to help give him life-sustaining care that includes helping him in and out of bed, getting dressed and assisting him with meal preparation.

Lower wages and burnout worsening home nursing shortage for families

Lower wages and burnout worsening home nursing shortage for families

October 26, 2022 - Families with medically dependent children, and seniors who require care at home, are struggling to find home care nurses. Lower wages and burnout, however are making the nursing shortage worse.

Medicare’s cuts to home health are a step in the wrong direction

Medicare’s cuts to home health are a step in the wrong direction

October 11, 2022 - My grandmother lived at the top of a hill overlooking the magical mountains and valleys of the Ozarks until the day we literally had to drag her off of it.

Home health, nursing homes look for year-end breaks in spending deal

Home health, nursing homes look for year-end breaks in spending deal

October 4, 2022 - Long-term care and home health providers are ramping up pleas for financial relief in a year-end congressional spending deal, testing their influence against a other health interests trying to tuck favorable provisions in the must-pass bill.

Low pay for personal care attendants means some Texans with disabilities go without services they ne

Low pay for personal care attendants means some Texans with disabilities go without services they ne

October 3, 2022 - While hourly workers in a variety of industries have seen significant pay increases in recent years, especially since the pandemic, attendants who assist people with disabilities in their homes remain stuck.

Seniors are stuck home alone as health aides flee for higher-paying jobs

Seniors are stuck home alone as health aides flee for higher-paying jobs

Sept. 25, 2022- RICHFIELD, Minn. — Racked with nausea and unable to leave the bathroom, Acey Hofflander muttered in confusion. Her husband tried to...

Congress must stave off Medicare cuts to protect home health care

Congress must stave off Medicare cuts to protect home health care

Sept 18, 2022 - For years, professionals in the home care and hospice industry have been working nonstop on behalf of pediatric patients, geriatric patients, disabled veterans, and anyone in need of home care, regardless of age or disability.

Don't leave Texas home care workers behind

Don't leave Texas home care workers behind

<b>Jul 16, 2022</b> — Don't leave Texas home care workers behind. Hospice agencies and at-home nurses are facing stagnant funding and rising inflation.

Texas got millions to boost pay for strapped health care attendants. It left out the largest group.

Texas got millions to boost pay for strapped health care attendants. It left out the largest group.

April 21, 2022 - Like many states, Texas is struggling to attract and retain home health workers to care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, a crisis that has swelled amid the pandemic and after years of low wages.

Advocates say the shortage of workers who help people with disabilities has become a crisis

Advocates say the shortage of workers who help people with disabilities has become a crisis

April 5, 2022 - Advocates say too little has been done to address the serious shortage of workers who help people with disabilities living at home in Texas.

Nurse Shortage Hits Home Health Industry Leaving Families in Limbo

Nurse Shortage Hits Home Health Industry Leaving Families in Limbo

November 18, 2021 - Several families in North Texas tell NBC 5 Responds they qualify for private duty nursing hours to help care for their medically fragile children but a shortage in nurses has made it nearly impossible to find help at home.

Home care agencies and patients across Texas in need of COVID-19 relief funds

Home care agencies and patients across Texas in need of COVID-19 relief funds

AMARILLO, Texas October 21, 2021 - (KFDA) - Significant COVID-19 costs and workforce shortages are negatively impacting hospital capacity and patients who rely on home care services.

'I am up day and night' | Houston mother taking on duties due to nurse shortage

'I am up day and night' | Houston mother taking on duties due to nurse shortage

October 19, 2021 - A Houston family has four children that need one-on-one nursing care 24/7. Their mother said it has been tough even getting nurses to apply for the job.

Texas at-home care providers requesting $412M of state’s $16B in COVID-19 relief

Texas at-home care providers requesting $412M of state’s $16B in COVID-19 relief

September 28, 2021 - AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Health care workers and patients who need at-home care are asking for $412 million of the state’s $16 billion in federal COVID-19 relief, pointing to dire staffing shortages worsened by the pandemic.

Pandemic has created shortage in home healthcare workers in Texas

Pandemic has created shortage in home healthcare workers in Texas

September 28, 2021 -AUSTIN, Texas - Home healthcare workers and parents of patients gathered at the Texas Law Center Tuesday morning to call on state lawmakers to allocate more than $400 million of Texas' $16 billion in federal coronavirus relief funds to support critical home care this special session.

COVID has drastically altered the future of home health care

COVID has drastically altered the future of home health care

May 26, 2021 - Early in the pandemic, stories of exhausted ICU nurses went viral and people around the world applauded our brave medical providers.

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