The boards of two of the most prominent home-based care associations are coming together to explore the formation of a new organization.
On Thursday, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) announced that their boards signed a non-binding letter of intent to pursue a potential combination of their organizations.
The two organizations initially formed a joint exploratory committee in March.
“It has become crystal clear that we can do more on behalf of our members by working together,” Ken Albert – NAHC’s board chair and the president and CEO of Androscoggin Home Healthcare + Hospice – said in a press statement. “If the current discussions do not lead to a new, combined organization, the outcome will nevertheless be closer working relationships on behalf of community-based and home care providers.”
Albert noted that over the past five months, NAHC and NHPCO have collaborated on multiple advocacy efforts. This work has brought these organizations closer together.
Each organization’s board voted to make this move with the recommendations of the steering committee, which included members and staff leaders from NAHC and NHPCO.
Melinda Gruber – NHPCO board chair and president of Caring Circle – believes that this is an opportunity for both organizations to progress in a way that will benefit the relevant industries at play.
“The American health care system is shifting, and home and community-based care options are increasing in a multitude of forms across the country,” she said in the statement. “With decades of experience in hospice and home care, NHPCO and NAHC members are the long-standing experts, and they are evolving to meet patient needs in a shifting environment. As we look ahead, we see an opportunity for the organizations representing those providers to evolve. In this time of change, we are acting with intention and care to continue meeting the needs of providers, patients, families, and communities well into the future.”
In the upcoming months, NAHC and NHPCO’s boards of directors will work together to figure out how a combined organization could represent the best interests of both memberships.
NAHC and NHPCO estimate that this process will take six to ten months. During this time, McKinley will stay on as an independent, third-party advisor.
Companies featured in this article:
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice, The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
