​Effective May 24, 2021, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) revised its COVID-19 Emergency Rules. The change comes as more Michiganders have received vaccines and COVID-19 cases have decreased. Most significantly, the newly amended rules completely eliminate the requirement that employers must create a policy prohibiting in-person work for employees to the extent that their work activities can feasibly be done completely remotely, meaning employees can be mandated to return to their physical workplace. Read more

​On May 17, 2021, Governor Kay Ivey signed Alabama’s new medical marijuana law, known as the Darren Wesley ‘Ato’ Hall Compassion Act, making Alabama the 37th state to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. The law identifies specific qualifying medical conditions, including but not limited to autism spectrum disorder (ASD); cancer-related cachexia, nausea or vomiting, weight loss, or chronic pain; Crohn’s disease; depression; epilepsy or a condition causing seizures; and HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss. While the law grants individuals with these health conditions access to medical marijuana, it provides almost no employment protections for doing so, and imposes no new obligations on employers. read more 

Last Thursday, Senate Republicans unveiled a $928 billion infrastructure counteroffer to President Biden’s original $1.9 trillion American Jobs Plan. The counteroffer is a substantial increase compared to the GOP’s previous five-year, $568 billion proposal, but still far less comprehensive than what the White House has called for, particularly when it comes to “soft infrastructure” like home- and community-based services. It seems unlikely that HCBS funding will be included in the initial infrastructure package, however, community-based services have historically been a bipartisan issue - so the funds could be included in a future package later this year.  ​

​While many Americans relaxed for the long Memorial Day weekend, HCAOA took the opportunity to speak with members about how THEY honor their clients who are veterans. Always Best Care Senior Services of Glenview and the North Shore spoke with two clients who served their country and shared their stories: U.S. Army Veteran, Samuel Thomas and U.S. Navy Veteran, George Blinick.  

​HCAOA has joined a coalition of nearly 100 senior groups to advocate for the passage of HR 3321 and S1670, which calls for family caregivers to receive up to $5,000 in tax credits for out-of-pocket expenses related to caring for a loved one at home. Family caregivers in the U.S. provide billions of dollars of unpaid care. With such a financial toll on families, the Credit for Caring Act aims to help. ​