Last week, the HCAOA Illinois Chapter’s advocacy efforts to expand the services that home services agencies are permitted to do paid off, when Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) approved most of the changes proposed by the Chapter. JCAR is the legislative committee in Illinois whose role is to ensure that the General Assembly is adequately informed of how laws are implemented through agency rulemaking and to facilitate public understanding of rules and regulations.
 
The Illinois Chapter took the lead on negotiations between stakeholders and the Illinois Department of Public Health to implement needed revisions to the existing regulations.  The discussions with IDPH focused on expanding the scope of non-medical services permitted to be completed by licensed home service agencies and their home service workers.   
 
With a seismic increase in older adults choosing to remain in their home settings longer, these negotiated revisions and agreed upon expanded scope of available services were (and remain) critical to safely address the ongoing needs of this important growing older population.
 
According to HCAOA IL Chapter Chair Karen Stephenson, members of the chapter board were extremely focused on seeing this effort through to the very end. 
 
“We held numerous meetings with Adam Guestow, HCAOA’s attorney for this project, to develop recommended changes that reflect the needs of seniors who want to remain in their own homes as they age,” explained Stephenson. “In the past, the restrictive interpretation of the regulations made it very difficult to provide the necessary services that clients and their families need. I am so proud to be part of this group of members who are focused on working together for the benefit of the entire Illinois home care community.” 
 
Some of the major changes include permitting home services agencies to accept clients who require complete repositioning, changing oxygen delivery systems and other broader interpretations for bathing and shampooing.

​Virtual Meeting Scheduled for June 21 to Review Changes to IL Regulations
 
To educate and help agencies prepare for these changes, the Chapter will hold a special virtual meeting on June 21, from 9:30-11 a.m. CT. 
 
“We want to make certain that HCAOA members are one step ahead of others by educating everyone on these changes as soon as possible,” said Stephenson. “Attorney Adam Guestow will provide an overview of the changes and Mike and Joan O’Brien, Independence 4 Seniors, will take us through the changes step by step.”
 
Click here to register now.
 
HCAOA extends its appreciation and congratulations to Karen Stephenson, Home Instead, Katie Fielmann, ComfortKeepers, Mike and Joan O’Brien, Independence 4 Seniors, Tricia Mullen, SASI-Chicago Methodist Senior Services, Jamie Farias, Lifestyle Options, Mike Steiner, Right at Home, and Mike Mellinger, Home Instead for this successful effort!

On May 10, 2022, Governor John Carney signed into law the Healthy Delaware Families Act, adding Delaware to an expanding list of jurisdictions with a paid family and/or medical leave (PFML) requirement. The law creates a statewide paid family and medical leave insurance program funded through employer and employee contributions.
 
PFML contributions will begin to be required in 2025, and covered employees will be able to access benefits in 2026. The Delaware Department of Labor plans to issue regulations implementing the law. In the interim, the following briefly highlights who and what the law covers. Learn More

“It challenges both entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs alike to motivate, innovate and evolve their agencies in the face of eroding revenue and margins. That’s why these meetings are so important to our members. It gives them a chance to network with their colleagues, to brainstorm ideas and take away best practices back to their businesses. I hope this meeting did just that. At the same time, I hope the value of membership was realized as well as the need to grow our industry’s voice in Georgia for without a collective voice…we stand alone.”
 
Also, speaking at the chapter was Dave Lamb, Legislative Chair and Jesse Petrea, legislator and HCAOA Board Member.

HCAOA members and VP of Government Relations Eric Reinarman met with several members of the Michigan Legislature last week in a continuing quest to get providers properly reimbursed for their care of those seriously injured in catastrophic car accidents.

Michigan members continue to make headway in educating state lawmakers about the serious impact the Auto No-Fault Insurance reform has had on providers and auto accident victims. This reform inadvertently included home care providers and has resulted in dramatic cuts of up to 45% in insurance reimbursement to providers who care for those who’ve been grievously injured in car accidents. 

Join us next week on June 1 at the Crowne Plaza Edison Hotel, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. to learn how to handle the legalization of cannabis in New Jersey, and also hear an update on chapter advocacy efforts and a licensing update from the Department of Community Affairs. 

​
Below is a quick look at the rest of this meeting’s agenda:

• N.J. Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, Deputy Minority Leader and Member, Health Committee (B.S., Nursing, M.S., Clinical Nurse Specialist)
• Chapter Advocacy Update - Adam Blecker, Chapter Chair and Andrea Sussman, Vice Chair
• Federal Legislative Update & Policy Priorities - Vicki Hoak, HCAOA CEO
• State Legislative Update - Dennis Marco, Managing Partner, Hamilton Public Affairs

 
Cost is $40 for members and $80 for non-members and includes a networking lunch. Register here.

The Long-Term Quality Alliance and ATI Advisory released a policy report last week highlighting three top recommendations for Congress to advance non-medical benefits in Medicare Advantage (MA).
 
The report notes that the Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care Act made strides in advancing holistic care to improve the quality of life for Americans with complex medical needs. In addition, the Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) gave MA the flexibility to address the diverse needs of these individuals, but according to the report, they believe three policy recommendations would advance these supplemental benefits to improve upon the framework already in place.
 
The priorities, which focus on eligibility, data reporting, and evaluation, are:
 

1. Modify eligibility criteria for SSBCI to maximize the potential value of the services in a person-centered way
2. Implement requirements and incentives for plans to report on utilization of SSBCI 3
3. Mandate and provide funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to work with an evaluation partner to conduct a meaningful and realistic evaluation of non-medical benefits using a phased approach

 
Read the full report here.

Milbank Memorial Fund has produced a white paper that looks at the challenges home care aides face and outlines administrative, funding, policy, and regulatory efforts that states can use to address the critical workforce shortage. 
 
Founded in 1905, Milbank supports innovative public sector leaders who are committed to making long-term, sustainable commitments to the health of all Americans. 
 
Click here for the report.

​Nominations are now open for the HCAOA 2022 Caregiver of the Year Award. Recognize one of your top caregivers for their compassion and commitment to providing exemplary care to your clients and their families. HCAOA’s goal is to have at least half of our members nominate a caregiver for this prestigious award.

​The nomination process is streamlined so that it’s easy and fast to submit your best caregiver.  

There are just five questions to answer:

1. Years as a caregiver
2. Describe the caregiver and why you are nominating him/her
3. Provide a story or example that illustrates the caregiver’s compassion and dedication
4. What awards or recognition has the caregiver received
5. What qualities or traits does the caregiver possess that make him/her a standout

 
Nominations Deadline: July 15. Submit your nomination here.
 
Eligibility Requirements:

• Each agency location can nominate one caregiver.
• Direct care workers and frontline caregivers providing care and support for individuals at home are eligible to be nominated.
• Licensed caregivers (RNs, LPNs, OTs, PTs, STs) are NOT eligible.

 
Sponsored by 

Tracking the performance of your agency is a key strategy for growing your agency. When you have metrics to evaluate your services and measure your profitability, you can create a framework for the future of your agency.
 
Join Andrea Cohen of HouseWorks to hear insights that will steer you toward long-term growth in the Home Care Master Class on Thursday, June 9.

Register for this session to learn why effective leaders know every aspect of their business—and have numbers and metrics to back them up.
 
Did You Miss the First Session?
 
Jeff Wiberg of Family Resource Home Care kicked off the Master Class series with a presentation that shared insider secrets to breaking through revenue plateaus. If you register for all three sessions, you get access to the full series, including part one of the series.
 
Plus, you can join the live webinar on July 21 to learn how to be a stronger leader so that you can create higher productivity with Catherine Vergara of CareFor.
 
Learn more about the series.

HCAOA’s Vicki Hoak opened the news conference stating that today older Americans and people with disabilities cannot access the care and support they need to remain as independent as possible in their own homes. 
 
“We simply don’t have the supply of professional caregivers to meet the rising demand for home care,” said Hoak. “This is not just a problem for the home care industry; this is a crisis facing our society, a society that is growing older every day.  By 2040, 81 million people in the U.S. will be 65 years and older, compared with 72 million under the age of 18. This means that America will soon consist of more old than young.”
 
NAHC President Bill Dombi emphasized that this is a multi-dimensional issue, and the Alliance is committed to bringing together the expertise of other stakeholders to explore an integrated focus on home care aides’ compensation and benefits, career growth, and elevating the profession of caregiving.

Stakeholders would include patients, home care aides, nurses, members of Congress, state lawmakers, and others interested in addressing this critical issue.” explained Dombi. “We’ve all recognized this is a problem, but we continue to work within our silos. But now, by joining together, we can succeed.”

David Totaro of BAYADA Home Health also spoke about the challenges home care agencies are experiencing. Last September, Bayada had to decline about 50% of all the cases it received. By the end of March 2022, the company’s declination rate was nearly 67%, reported Totaro.

The group’s first initiative, “Voices for Care at Home,” aims to share and gather the stories of caregivers, providers, clients, families, and others who have experienced home care especially those who are having difficulty getting the help they need. 
“We’re hoping everyone, especially HCAOA members and their clients, will go to the website and write their story. Stories are powerful when it comes to advocacy,” said Hoak. “The campaign’s goal is to not only highlight the issues causing the shortage but to find concrete solutions to address the shortage.”    

To share your story, click here. 
​
The next step is to form workgroups that will address the various causes for the workforce shortage. Members interested in participating in the groups are urged to send their contact information to info@hcaoa.org.

Here are the top three reasons to attend this year’s Annual Leadership Conference:
 

1. It’s been too long! 
   The last HCAOA national conference was held in 2019, so it’s time to gather again! Over the course of two days, attendees will have more than 16 sessions that provide essential information on improving agencies’ operations, care, and employee and client satisfaction.
   
   
2. Pre-Conference – Added Value 
   New this year, we have added an afternoon of advocacy education on Saturday, September 17, from 1-5 p.m., where attendees can learn first-hand the importance of being an advocate for your business and the clients you serve. You’ll hear from state legislators and advocacy experts about how to  discuss issues with elected officials and how to execute  successful campaigns. The session will also highlight state chapters roles in elevating the perception of home care as well as sharing information on trends across the U.S. 
   
   
3. Networking
   ​It’s been said that one of the best ways to learn is to network and that’s why HCAOA has scheduled several opportunities during the conference for attendees to network with one another. Whether it’s visiting with a vendor in the Exhibit Hall, where more than 60 companies will be available to discuss the latest and greatest products and services for home care agencies, or during one of the scheduled meals, networking has long been cited as a benefit of HCAOA membership. 

 
Register today by clicking here. The full conference details, including education breakout sessions, keynotes, and special events, (like the awards ceremony) can be found in the brochure. Plan to join us Sept. 17-19 in Orlando, FL.

 The booth package includes:

• 8x10 Booth
• A standard identification sign indicating company name
• One (1) skirted table (6’) in carpeted area with two (2) chairs
• Two (2) complimentary exhibitor registrations
• Ability to purchase additional registrations at the discounted rate of $375 each
• Listing on the HCAOA website & Insider Newsletter, including link
• Complimentary use of one pre-show and post-show Attendee List
• Recognition on HCAOA Annual Leadership Conference signage
• Discount for Associate Members ($200)

 
Email Andrea to secure a spot at the conference, or click here to download the prospectus.

​It's no secret that an agency's scheduler or care coordinator often sets the tone for the entire organization! Their professionalism and problem-solving skills impact all aspects of a home care company's operations, most importantly caregiver and client satisfaction. That’s why HCAOA will once again hold a webinar exclusively for individuals in these positions. 
 
For the third year in a row, HCAOA will hold this virtual session, which continues to grow in participation to the point where it is now officially named the Annual Home Care Schedulers and Care Coordinators Summit.
 
This year’s summit will feature veteran schedulers from around the U.S. who will share strategies for success in the interactive webinar on July 14, from 2-3:30 ET.

Experienced schedulers Grace Cooper of Waverly Care in Gladwyne, PA, Jessica Houlihan of Sunland Home Care in Mesa, AZ, and Jolie Perez of Care to Stay Home in Santa Ana, CA, will discuss the most common challenges they face every day and offer real-world tips and valuable solutions that can be applied in your agency right away.
 
Sign up your team today to learn how to:

• Create an environment of care and empathy for clients and caregivers
• Implement successful, organized staffing procedures
• Learn communication strategies like listening and being proactive
• Discover how to multi-task like a pro

 
Cost is $90 for members. Click here for details and to register. 

​Register now for the Entrepreneur Academy and learn how to effectively engage with your clients to create memorable, positive experiences that build trust and confidence in your agency.

This MBA-style academy provides insight into your behavioral tendencies and human interactions, enabling you to have a deeper understanding of yourself and how to engage others.
 
The program was built for busy professionals. Here are some ways it can work for you:

• Self-paced flexible one-year program
• Talent Insight Assessment to uncover your strengths and weaknesses
• Entrepreneur toolbox at your disposal
• Weekly topic discussions with fellow classmates
• Dynamic group coaching model
• Over 30 hours of learning opportunity
• Personal leadership strategic plan for the future

 
Click here to learn more about the program. When you are ready to register, email info@hcaoa.org to get the code for the discounted price of $999. You can start the program any time through September 30 and will have one year to complete from that date.