Feingold Highlights Progress, Challenges in Fight For Home Health Care Senator Kicks Off New Year of Listening Sessions in La Fayette, Iowa Counties January 3, 2000 Gratiot, WI -- In his first Listening Sessions of the new year, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold today discussed the surge of closures of home health agencies across the state, how the final federal budget deal will offer some relief to these agencies, and what challenges lie ahead in the fight to restore stability to home health care in Wisconsin. "As home health agencies have been forced to close their doors due to changes in the way Medicare pays for home health services, I have worked with my colleagues in the Senate to curb the unintended effects of these changes," Feingold said. "We've gained some ground in the battle for Wisconsin’s home health agencies by increasing payments for the sickest patients, but we’ve still got a long way to go to getting a fair deal for the people who give and receive home health care in our state." Last year Feingold joined with Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota and the late Senator John Chafee of Rhode Island to craft a bill, the Fairness in Medicare Home Health Access Act of 1999. The legislation was designed to enable elderly and disabled homebound individuals to remain in their homes, in part by increasing payments for the sickest patients to already financially-strapped home health agencies. Feingold and his colleagues got this provision included in the final budget deal. It is considered a step toward giving home health agencies the comprehensive relief they need. "Accessible home health care is a vital part of helping seniors and disabled homebound individuals stay at home and with their families," Feingold said. "When Congress begins its new session later this month, I’ll continue to fight for Wisconsin’s home health care agencies and their patients until they get the fair treatment they deserve." Feingold's first Listening Session of 2000, and the 505th since he was first elected in 1992, was held at the Gratiot Community Center beginning at 9 a.m. Feingold’s second session of the year, and 506th since he was first elected, was held at the Barneveld Municipal Building beginning at 11:30 a.m.

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