It seems like many things are brought into a political light these days (no, this is not a political blog.) However, our freedom to choose and advocate for individual beliefs is something our country values. In healthcare, advocacy plays an important role in determining our reimbursement, regulatory changes, and quality expectations.
Upon entering our facilities, our patients, residents, and tenants receive a “Bill of Rights.” These rights allow each person to advocate for themselves or others when receiving care at JMHS. Our government creates many laws and regulations designed to protect us. Laws concerning billing procedures, reimbursement limits, and standards of care expectations are determined every year. I have seen the power of advocacy in creating changes in long-term care reimbursement, quality expectations, and licensure requirements throughout my career. I have personally met with many legislators to assist them with understanding the issues and advocating for healthcare reform. Energy well invested. As our legislative season gets in full swing, I urge you to become an “advocate.” Advocacy inspired our new “no surprise billing” rule and the charge transparency rules, as noted on our webpage. Our healthcare workforce is experiencing ongoing challenges, and I will be joining Leading Age Minnesota on April 5th to advocate for Senior Care Reform and Workforce Priorities. What will you advocate for in 2022?
Kris Jacobson, LNHA, LALD, MBA
JMHS Interim CEO
