CNN political analyst David Gergen spoke with home care and hospice providers at annual March on Washington event

Nationally known and recognized political analyst David Gergen spoke
today at the National Home Care & Hospice Association’s March on
Washington event about the uncertain times that we face as a country.

“I can’t remember a time of such uncertainty…of a time when our
problems seem so big and the opportunity to solve them through the
political process seems so small,” said Gergen.

In addition to the economy, Gergen asserted that home care and hospice
is an economical way to address the country’s budget issues with an
average Medicare cost $135 versus the $1500 average daily cost for a
hospital.  “It isn’t just about the money though the central argument
is the moral debate that each of us has a right to die with dignity,”
said Gergen.

The annual March on Washington & Law Symposium Conference & Exposition
brings together hundreds of home care and hospice providers and will
address current hot topics in health care legislation, regulatory
matters, technology and hospice. Attendees will keep the fight alive
for the critical, high-value, high-quality care that is delivered
every day to some of the nation’s most vulnerable individuals.

“My sense is that what you are doing is vital to the country, it is
vital not only to the economics of the country but to the quality of
care in the country and the quality of caring about each other,” said
Gergen. “And that you are becoming even more important in the coming
years because of the baby boom generation.”

The annual march comes at a time when $12 billion in Medicare cuts to
the industry are already planned over the next few years even though
home care and hospice is more cost effective, saving billions in
Medicare expenditures. In 2009, the average home care visit cost
$135.00 per day versus the average hospital visit that cost $1500 a
day.   Preventive home health care saves Medicare and Medicaid
billions of dollars per year.