Embodied Labs is offering free access to caregiver training through the State of California’s CalGROWS program. Care professionals, family, and friends can all utilize these trainings to better serve those they care for.

Don't forget to register for the HCAOA National Legislative Call tomorrow, September 12, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. ET. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is launching a training series focused on the home- and community-based services (HCBS) provisions of the Medicaid Access Rule. This final rule, aimed at improving access to care, quality of care, and health outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries, introduces significant changes to strengthen safeguards, promote health equity, and enhance the consistency of Medicaid HCBS programs. The training sessions will cover key provisions of the rule, providing partners with the opportunity to understand the updates, ask questions, and give feedback on the rule's implementation.

HCAOA’s Home Care Schedulers Virtual Symposium: Strategies to Prepare for Unexpected Challenges & Tools to Help You Succeed is September 18 from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET. If you’ve not yet registered the schedulers from your agency, don’t miss out on this unique educational offering designed specifically for the schedulers who keep our home care agencies running smoothly. All attendees will hear from leaders in the industry and walk away with helpful tools and resources they can implement immediately at your agency.

HCAOA CEO Jason Lee recently spoke about the state of the home care industry with Nicky Reynolds, Marketing Communications Manager of Rosemark. Lee discussed the challenges facing the home care industry and the association’s legislative efforts. He highlighted critical issues such as workforce recruitment and retention, with many agencies struggling to find and keep qualified staff. Lee also discussed the implications of the Medicaid Access Rule, which mandates that 80% of funding be directed toward wages, a regulation that may not fit all states uniformly and presents various implementation challenges. The simultaneous rollout of multiple rules, including Medicaid, Overtime, and Non-compete Rules, has added to the complexity of navigating the industry’s regulatory landscape.

​Use-case demos have been added to Technology Forum: How AI, Voice, and Other Tech Is Changing the Face of Care at Home, Tuesday, October 29, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. PT. Speak2 and Caring Senior Service will present real-world examples of how they have integrated these technologies into their operations, providing insights on how you can do the same for your business.

Last week’s nationwide injunction by a federal court in Texas barring the Federal Trade Commission from implementing its ban on noncompete agreements could help home care agency owners in Connecticut.

Proper caregiver training is crucial for ensuring high-quality care and addressing high staff turnover and burnout in the home care industry. According to the 2024 Activated Insights Benchmarking Report, many home-based care and home health staff feel unprepared for new clients, contributing to a nearly 80% annual turnover rate. Training not only enhances caregivers' skills and job satisfaction but also supports their professional development, which is vital for maintaining a motivated workforce and delivering better patient care.

The deadline to submit nominations for the HCAOA Board of Directors is next Friday, September 6, 2024.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Ada E. Brown set aside the FTC’s sweeping ban on non-compete agreements, concluding that the rule was “arbitrary and capricious” and that the FTC lacked the statutory authority to issue the rule in the first place. (read Judge Brown’s decision here).

HCAOA members are invited to register for Polsinelli's Home Care Industry Update on September 19 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 discussion on developments affecting health care fraud enforcement, including policy announcements, case law developments under False Claims Act (FCA) and FCA settlements entered into by health care industry participants.

As we approach the final stretch for the Home Care Industry Association Research Study, HCAOA would like to remind you the deadline to participate is August 31st – the last day to have your voice heard and be eligible for exciting rewards! ​

​Thanks to aggressive advocacy by the HCAOA West Virginia Chapter, the state’s HCBS reimbursement rate has been raised from $18.92 to $25.44, a 34.5% increase! This increase makes West Virginia’s rates more competitive with surrounding state rates, such as Kentucky (soon to be $29), Ohio ($29), Maryland ($31), Pennsylvania ($23 regional average), and Virginia ($23 regional average).