DePino Associates worked for VITAS Innovative Hospice care in 2007. DePino Associates was hired in efforts of securing a Hospice Medicaid benefit in the state of Connecticut, one of two states in the country that do not already have such a benefit. In 2007, DePino Associates worked with members of the legislature to have a bill proposed, we worked with leadership but ran up against some apprehension regarding the costs of this benefit.
In 2008 DePino Associates continued advocating for a Hospice Medicaid benefit. DePino Associates was able to work with Secretary Genuario and the Governor’s office to discuss the cost savings produced by a Hospice Medicaid benefit. DePino Associates was successful in having the Governor include the Hospice Medicaid benefit in her budget proposal; as well as discussing it in her state of the state address. Throughout the 2008 session DePino Associates worked closely with the co-chairs of the Human Services committee and other leaders to see that one of the many bills that would create a Hospice Medicaid Benefit was passed. In April the Governor and the Democrats decided that they were not going to amend the budget, so DePino Associates worked diligently to remove the bill from the Governor’s budget bills. Within the last hours of session DePino Associates was able to secure a Hospice Medicaid benefit.