As President and CEO of NHPCO, I want to urge everyone to consider attending Advocacy Day 2020. Our community faces several important threats and opportunities this year, including Hospice Program Integrity legislation, PCHETA, the Rural Access to Hospice Act, and the MA-VBID proposal. I know many of you have strong feelings about these issues, but the only way we can make positive change for our community is to participate. If you are a leader at your organization, please consider sending one or two members of your team to participate in Advocacy Day. I promise you they will return rejuvenated, excited, and focused on improving quality care for our patients and families. If you work at an NHPCO Provider Member, please ask your leadership to support you in attending Advocacy Day 2020.

The Advocacy Day will precede the Leadership and Advocacy Conference (LAC) this year, allowing attendees to attend both events without conflict. If you are attending LAC, participation in Advocacy Day is already included in your registration fee, you just need to complete the Congressional Meetings form in your confirmation mail to secure your spot and reserve your congressional meetings. If you’d like to attend only Advocacy Day, on March 23rd and 24th, you can do so for $250 and still experience the training sessions, congressional meetings, and congressional reception on Tuesday evening. Registration for Advocacy Day will remain open until Tuesday, March 10.  If you have any questions, please reach out to the Hospice Action Network team at info@nhpcohan.org, and they will be happy to assist you.

I appreciate all of you who take time away from your jobs and families to attend our conferences and gain the education and experience to improve not only your career, but the wider hospice and palliative care community. I hope you are able to take advantage of the great opportunity that Advocacy Day provides to not only gain skills for yourself, but to participate in the democratic process and advocate for our patients and families.

-Edo Banach, JD