Campaign to cap the 75% Rule
In the spring of 2007, DePino Associates was hired to conduct a state-wide campaign in Massachusetts on behalf of HealthSouth, one of the nation’s largest HealthCare providers. DePino Associates worked with the HealthSouth facilities to collect letters from community leaders and constituents supporting a federal bill that would cap the 75 percent rule at 60 percent. The 75 percent rule was a piece of legislation that would limit the amount of patients in an inpatient rehabilitation facility with certain diagnoses. It was established in order to save money but resulted in inpatient rehabilitation facilities turning away people in need.
DePino Associates worked with the rehabilitation facilities to host letter writing days where patients and their families would be able to meet with us to sign letters addressed to their Congressman and Senators encouraging them to support the federal bill. DePino Associates was successful in placing this issue in the spotlight for the local media and for our target Congressman Neal. Congressman Neal agreed to tour the HealthSouth facility in Ludlow, where he was able to meet with patients, staff and reporters to discuss the problems with the 75% rule. DePino Associates was one of the few campaigns that were asked to continue to working on the campaign through the fall when the bill passed both houses of Congress and we successfully reached our goal.