Backbencher of the Week

This week's Backbencher of the Week is shared by Rep. Jim McGovern(D-MA-3) and Rep. Walter Jones(R-NC-3) for their work on issues regarding home care and hospice.  Back in the late 90's and the early part of this decade there was a congressional working group focused on issues related to home care an hospice.  As recently as 2000 there were 66 members of a U.S. House working group dedicated to issues relating to home care and hospice.  However,  the group died out over time.

Just last month, Rep. Jones and Rep. McGovern circulated a letter to their colleagues stating their intention to reform this working group.  Home health and hospice are rapidly growing areas of medical care but have spent the past few years dealing with attempts to cut the Medicare reimbursement for these programs.  Due to the efforts of Rep. McGovern and Rep. Jones home care and hospice now will have a group of strong advocates in Congress.

For their work on behalf of home health and hospice we are pleased to award this week's Backbencher of the Week to Rep. McGovern and Rep. Jones.  Congratulations.