Montgomery Renée J, Rogers Timothy R
Parker, Poe, Adams & Bernstein, LLP, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Caring. 2003 Oct;22(10):72-4.
After Judge Beecher Gray ordered parties to attempt to settle before re-appearing on September 29, AHHC Executive Vice-President Tim Rogers and staff met with DMA officials as well as members of the General Assembly and Governor's office. Using a comprehensive approach, AHHC launched an immediate political and press campaign to help convince DMA in addition to its legal actions. Articles and testimony from affected PDN patients and their parents began appearing in North Carolina newspapers, and ultimately the state was persuaded to settle this issue out of court. At press time, DMA has finally instructed the state Attorney General to proceed with legal settlement papers that will in essence support all the issues AHHC was fighting for. North Carolina will maintain the current (higher) PDN reimbursement rate; will NOT recoup any funds from providers: and will file a state plan amendment and repay CMS the federal share. Due to AHHC's action, North Carolina providers have been spared nearly $4 million in recoupments and potential agency closure and shut-down of the PDN program ... which serves only 380 North Carolina residents. After nearly two years of having to react and advocate for its members, the North Carolina association can now rejoice in the fact that "you can fight city hall..." and win! Rogers reports "the North Carolina association has entered into a new era of stature and respect and advocacy on behalf of its record 570 agency members. This was truly a team effort and stands as a great legacy for AHHC." AHHC now enjoys a much improved, collaborative relationship with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and DMA. AHHC has entered into a whole new era of cooperation and dialogue with the new Medicaid administration in North Carolina. DMA has been tremendously supportive and has expressed renewed interest in learning more about the state's growing home care and hospice industry. AHHC has a staff of five and a contract staff of three. Rogers rejoined the AHHC staff in 2001 after seven years in private home health and hospice employment. He states, "It was my dream to ultimately rejoin AHHC as its EVP and staff, like long-time AHHC regulatory expert Sherry Thomas. That dream materialized in 2001, and I must say--it's so good to be back HOME. "The last two years have been memorable for our great association, its staff, and its board of directors. But two special people who helped maintained our very existence during these lawsuits were attorney Renée Montgomery and Judge Jack L. Cozort. I always knew that Renee and Jack were among the state's health care legal experts, but never did I dream that they would envelop such passion, devotion, and vigor during this process." At the 2003 AHHC Annual Meeting, AHHC formally recognized Montgomery, Cozort, and Thomas as its "Home Care and Hospice Heroes."
在比彻·格雷法官命令各方在9月29日再次出庭之前尝试达成和解后，AHHC执行副总裁蒂姆·罗杰斯和工作人员与DMA官员以及州议会和州长办公室的成员进行了会面。AHHC采取了全面的方法，除了采取法律行动外，还立即发起了一场政治和媒体宣传活动，以帮助说服DMA。受影响的腹膜透析患者及其父母的文章和证词开始出现在北卡罗来纳州的报纸上，最终该州被说服庭外解决这个问题。截至发稿时，DMA终于指示州检察长着手处理法律和解文件，这些文件实质上支持了AHHC所争取的所有问题。北卡罗来纳州将维持当前（较高）的腹膜透析报销率；不会从供应商那里追回任何资金；并将提交一份州计划修正案，向医疗保险和医疗补助服务中心偿还联邦份额。由于AHHC的行动，北卡罗来纳州的供应商避免了近400万美元的追回款项以及腹膜透析项目可能的机构关闭和停运……该项目仅服务于380名北卡罗来纳州居民。在经过近两年不得不为其成员做出反应和进行倡导之后，北卡罗来纳州协会现在可以为“你可以挑战市政厅……”并获胜这一事实而欣喜！罗杰斯报告说：“北卡罗来纳州协会代表其创纪录的570个机构成员进入了一个地位提升、受到尊重和倡导的新时代。这确实是团队的努力，是AHHC的一份伟大遗产。”AHHC现在与北卡罗来纳州卫生和公众服务部以及DMA的关系有了很大改善，更加合作。AHHC与北卡罗来纳州新的医疗补助管理部门进入了一个全新的合作与对话时代。DMA一直给予大力支持，并表示有新的兴趣更多地了解该州不断发展的家庭护理和临终关怀行业。AHHC有五名工作人员和三名合同制工作人员。罗杰斯在从事了七年的私人家庭健康和临终关怀工作后，于2001年重新加入AHHC工作人员队伍。他说：“我的梦想最终是像长期的AHHC监管专家雪莉·托马斯一样，作为执行副总裁重新加入AHHC并与工作人员共事。这个梦想在2001年实现了，我必须说——回到家感觉真好。”“过去两年对我们伟大的协会、其工作人员和董事会来说令人难忘。但在这些诉讼期间帮助我们维持生存的两位特别人士是律师蕾妮·蒙哥马利和杰克·L·科佐特法官。我一直知道蕾妮和杰克是该州医疗保健法律专家，但我从未想到他们在这个过程中会展现出如此的热情、奉献和活力。”在2003年AHHC年会上，AHHC正式将蒙哥马利、科佐特和托马斯认定为其“家庭护理和临终关怀英雄”。
