Updates with Bliss: Decode the Care: Medicare vs. Medicaid

At the Table or On the Menu?

In this episode, host Michael Sokoloski sits down with Maggie DiPasquale, the Area Director of Government Affairs for Hearts for Home Care and Bayada Home Health Care. Maggie breaks down the complex, sometimes frustrating world of Medicare policy and explains why home care providers are facing an uphill battle against continuous reimbursement cuts.   In This Episode, You'll Learn: - The Policy vs. Access Gap: How viewing healthcare cuts through a "spending lens" instead of an "access lens" hurts real patients. - The Compounding Effect: Why year-over-year payment reductions create massive challenges for recruiting and retaining a fragile workforce. - The Power of the Human Story: Why home visits are the ultimate advocacy tool to change lawmakers' minds. - How to Take Action: The simplest way for new advocates to share their stories and secure their seat at the policy table. * Share Your Story: Hearts for Home Care Website [http://heartsforhomecare.com] * Learn More: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPac) [https://www.medpac.gov]     produced by slanted.design [https://www.slanted.design/]

Updates with Bliss: Decode the Care: Medicare vs. Medicaid

Happy May advocates! Advocacy season is officially in full swing, and host Bliss Brown returns for a quick classroom session. In this episode, we are clearing up the ultimate healthcare confusion once and for all: what is the actual difference between Medicare and Medicaid, and how does it impact the future of home care? In This Episode, You'll Learn The Alphabet Soup of Care: A simple breakdown of Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D—and which one you'll hear about most in home health. The Long-Term Lifeline: How Medicaid acts as the primary payer for long-term, home-based services across America. The Power of Both: What it means to be "dual-eligible" and how these two massive programs work together for patients. Why It Matters Right Now: How federal funding decisions directly impact state budgets and the home care services your family and community may rely on.

Moving from Awareness to Influence: The "Mental Switch" Every Advocate Needs

We sit down with Laura Brigandi, senior manager of advocacy practice for the Public Affairs Council, to pull back the curtain on what actually moves the needle with decision-makers. We discuss the importance of personalization in messaging and building relationships that are beneficial, not transactional. Laura delivers the blueprint for influence that sticks. If you’re ready to stop just "raising awareness" and start driving real policy change, this conversation is your new secret weapon🔥 In This Episode, You’ll Learn 💡 * Why credibility, relevance, and human consequence are the non-negotiables for any successful campaign. * How to move past generic "action alerts" and use your authentic story to cut through the noise of AI-generated messages. * Why "knowing an issue exists" isn't enough—and how to target the right people to actually change a decision. * How resource-constrained organizations can build a powerhouse advocacy practice without a massive staff or budget. * The critical importance of the "follow-up" and why advocacy is a relationship discipline, not a one-time event. Resource Links 🔗 * Guest Info: Connect with Laura Brigandi at the Public Affairs Council [https://pac.org/contact/laura_brigandi]. * Event Alert: Don't miss the upcoming Public Affairs Council Advocacy Conference [https://pac.org/events]. * Become an advocate at H4HC [https://www.heartsforhomecare.com/]   produced by slanted.design [https://www.slanted.design/]

New Jersey's Home Care Heroes: The Assemblywomen Leading the Charge

Get ready to feel inspired! In this episode, we’re joined by the ultimate power duo from the New Jersey State Legislature: Assemblywoman Carol Murphy and Assemblywoman Aura Dunn. Despite being on different sides of the aisle, these two are proof that passion for the home care community transcends politics. They dive deep into the formation of New Jersey's first-of-its-kind Bipartisan Home Care Caucus and share heart-to-heart stories about how visiting families in their homes changed their entire legislative perspective. It’s a masterclass in advocacy, empathy, and getting things done for the "Silver Tsunami" heading our way.   Are you a home care advocate in the tristate area? Learn more about our New Jersey Home Care Rally happening in May and RSVP today! https://heartsforhomecare.quorum.us/event/33183/ [https://heartsforhomecare.quorum.us/event/33183/] In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The Power of Proximity: Why seeing home care in action is 100x more impactful than reading a budget report. Small Wins, Big Impact: The "behind the scenes" saga of the Parking Plaque Bill and why persistent advocacy matters for home health aides. The Workforce Crisis: A candid look at why raising the minimum wage isn't a "one-size-fits-all" fix for the dedicated DSPs and LPNs in the field. Cutting the Red Tape: What the new administration can do to simplify the permitting and hospitalization transfer process for families. The Future of Advocacy: How to be your own "Nudger in Chief" and effectively reach out to your local representatives.   Loved this episode? Don't let the conversation stop here! Subscribe to our channel, leave a review on your favorite podcast platform, and head over to our website to see how you can join our grassroots advocacy efforts today! Let’s keep nudging for change together!       produced by slanted.design [https://www.slanted.design/]

Home Care Revolution: Forecasting Workforce Trends with HCAOA CEO Jason Lee

This week Mike Sokolowski sits down with Jason Lee, CEO of the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA). They tackle the massive forces reshaping how we care for our aging population—from AI breakthroughs to the urgent need for a professionalized workforce. If you want to know where the future of healthcare is headed (hint: it’s right in your living room), you can't afford to miss this one!    Don't forget that next week is the HCAOA Advocacy Day in Washington D.C. (April 22, 2026), be part of the movement to protect home health care at hcaoa.org/national-home-care-advocacy-day.html [https://www.hcaoa.org/national-home-care-advocacy-day.html]   In the Episode: - Policy Power Plays: How the HCAOA is working with legislators to create "common sense" policies that support both agencies and families. - The 2050 Demographic Cliff: Why the exponential growth of the 65+ and 85+ populations is the biggest external factor facing the industry. - Professionalizing the Caregiver: Shifting the narrative from a "calling" to a rewarding, high-skill "career path" to solve the recruitment crisis. - Immigration as a Solution: The push for streamlining EB-3 visas and creating a specific "Home Care Visa" to bolster the workforce. - Advocacy 101: Why you are the "most important person in the room" when meeting with members of Congress (and how to tell your story). - The Tech Evolution: How AI and electronic visit verification (EVV) are streamlining operations and ensuring program integrity. - Protecting the "Agency Model": Why W-2 employment is the gold standard for preventing fraud, waste, and abuse compared to 1099 models. Resource Links  * HCAOA Website: Home Care Association of America [https://www.hcaoa.org] * Become a H4HC Advocate at heartsforhomecare.com [https://www.heartsforhomecare.com/]         produced by slanted.design [https://www.slanted.design/]