Utica Home Care Expert Bader Reynolds Appointed to State Workgroup on Expanding Home and Community-Based Care

EAST GREENBUSH, NY (08/27/2007)(readMedia)-- Bader Reynolds, Vice President of Buffalo-based home care agency CareGivers, has been named to the New York State Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration (MFP) workgroup. MFP is designed to assist people living in institutional health care settings like nursing homes return home to receive care. Home care is a patient preferred source of care that costs much less than a nursing home. CareGivers, with 12 New York offices including Utica where Reynolds is based, is a member of the New York State Association of Health Care Providers, Inc. (HCP), a statewide trade association representing the full spectrum of home care and hospice agencies in New York.

“I’m fortunate to work in home care because I witness the pure joy and peace of mind that results when individuals are able to receive care at home among their family, friends, pets and the general comforts of their home and community,” said Reynolds. “The Money Follows the Person demonstration will help State government transition even more interested New Yorkers from an institution back into their home. I can’t think of a better program to be supportive of than one that brings quality health and supportive services and happiness to the disabled and aging while reducing the cost of health care.”

In January of this year, New York State was awarded a MFP grant to assist in transitioning nursing home patients into home care. For each individual transferred, the State will receive additional Federal funding to help pay for implementing programs to better utilize home and community-based care long-term care programs. The State anticipates collecting an additional $27 million in funding to support long-term care in return for helping approximately 2,800 people return to their own homes from nursing homes.

“I look forward to helping this worthwhile demonstration grow and mature in a way that sets in motion a positive trend toward making home and community-based care more accessible to New Yorker’s and future generations,” Reynolds said.

“I’m so pleased that Bader has accepted this position on the MFP workgroup,” said Phyllis Wang, HCP President. “She is dedicated to improving access to home care so all New Yorkers can have the benefit of home and community-based care should they need it. I trust her leadership and knowledge will be a great asset to the workgroup and the residents of this State.”

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HCP is a statewide trade association representing the full spectrum of home and community-based providers. Through a strong network of regional chapters and an active State office in Albany, HCP is a primary authority of the health care industry.

Home care. Health care. Your care . . . for life. SM