A recent article published in HealthAffairs emphasized how the COVID-19 pandemic strained the already fragile direct care workforce, which led to closures of vital home and community-based services (HCBS) providers and placed additional burdens on family caregivers. The federal government deployed short-term funding and flexibility through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to stabilize the workforce, resulting in improved wages and workforce initiatives. However, these gains are now in jeopardy as the enhanced federal funds are depleted. To address this, policymakers must act swiftly to preserve recent progress and enhance workforce stabilization efforts. Insights from interviews and focus groups across states underscore the need for higher wages, improved training and support systems, and meaningful worker engagement in program development.
0 Comments
Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee recently signed several workplace protection bills, including the Employee Free Choice Act (SB 5778), making Washington the sixth state to bar employers from disciplining or terminating employees who decline to attend "captive audience" meetings, often used to undermine union activities. Another notable bill (HB 1905) expands pay equity investigations by allowing the Department of Labor & Industries to probe discrimination claims based on age, race, disability, and other protected classes, previously limited to gender-based claims. Inslee also approved SB 5793, which enhances the state's paid sick leave law, broadening its scope to include caring for non-traditional family members such as roommates and close relationships and enabling paid sick leave if a child’s school or daycare is closed due to emergency declarations made by local, state, or federal government.
The Connecticut General Assembly approved a new three-year agreement reached between the Connecticut Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Workforce Council and SEIU District 1199 New England.
John Sneath, founder and CEO of HCAOA member Tribute Home Care, was recently featured on the Home Health Care News Disrupt podcast. Sneath shared insights about why Tribute is doubling down on private-pay personal care and how the agency approaches caregiver recruitment and hiring.
California Chapter Leadership is requesting members to send letters of support for AB 2185. Assemblymember Corey A. Jackson is sponsoring AB 2185, which would prohibit Domestic Referral Agencies (DRAs) from compensating home care workers and independent contractors, which has become more and more of an issue in California, especially in recent years as the demand for services grows. AB 2185 would allow Domestic Referral Agencies to continue to provide referral services but not allow them to function as unlicensed home care organizations by compensating domestic workers who provide care to seniors on an ongoing basis without being a licensed home care organization and the licensing requirements that are required of home care organizations and protections for home care aides and seniors.
Last week, HCAOA members joined forces with the South Carolina Home Care and Hospice Association and Hearts for Home Care to advocate for home care and hospice services. Thirty advocates and providers across the state walked the halls and met with over 35 lawmakers at the state Capitol in Columbia to address workforce wage demand. HCAOA South Carolina Chair Melissa Allman, Director of Government Affairs at BAYADA Home Care, stated, “We are grateful for the continued support from the General Assembly and the Department of Health and Human Services.”
Retaining staff and improving outcomes are two goals of any health care organization. Studies have shown that a personalized approach can increase staff satisfaction regarding healthcare employee retention. HCAOA partner Relias offers Competency Evaluations to help identify gaps in knowledge and skills from day one so that you can provide a more tailored approach to onboarding. Members are encouraged to watch this on-demand webinar session with Clark Christian, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Relias, to learn how this tool can help!
HCAOA’s Georgia Chapter is pleased to report that the House has approved the SFY 2025 budget, and now the budget is in the Senate for consideration. The chapter previously met with the House Appropriations Chair and recently met with the Senate Appropriations Chair to answer questions and advocate for passage of the SFY 2025 with this funding fully intact. The Chapter will continue to follow the budget process in the Senate and are prepared to answer any questions on behalf of the budget request. HCAOA members may have read about the cyber attack on Change Healthcare last week. Many healthcare providers, including those servicing Medicaid or Veterans through the VA Community Care Network, either submit claims to a portal or directly to Change Healthcare, which processes the claims and facilitates payment. In the wake of the attack, Change Healthcare disconnected claim submission platforms.
HCAOA members are invited to register for Polsinelli's Home Care Industry Update on March 14 at 12:00 p.m. ET. HCAOA CEO Jason Lee will participate in a panel discussion with representatives from Polsinelli and The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) for a comprehensive overview of the latest legislative and legal developments.
Please enjoy Part 4, the final installment of the four-part video series from CareerPlug. In Part 4, the importance of texting in the interview process will be discussed. Are you texting candidates? Is this something holding you back from making the hires you need? Watch this three-minute video to find out!
Please enjoy Part 3 of this four-part video series from CareerPlug. Part 3 will review where your jobs are posted through your CareerPlug account, why it is important where your jobs are posted, and which websites provide higher quality candidates. Knowing where your applicants are coming from is critical to your hiring process and your future success with recruitment. Watch this four-minute video for tips on finding candidates on the websites where they search for jobs.
Please enjoy Part 2 of this four-part video series from CareerPlug. Part 2 will review best practices on what to include and not include when posting a job. Your job listing should be magnetic, easily found and understood, and showcase everything your agency has to offer an employee. View this four-minute video for tips to optimize your job description.
|
Archives
May 2024
Categories
All
Upcoming Events |
Phone: 202-519-2960 | 444 N. Capitol Street NW, Suite 428 | Washington, DC 20001
info@hcaoa.org | sitemap © 2024 Home Care Association of America. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Refund Policy |
|