New initiatives, regulations, laws and changes impact how home care provides do business each day. In New York, wage increases for home care aides, new tax credits for employers, and the Governor’s new budget are making waves and disrupting business.  

HCAOA New York members are invited to learn how to navigate the constantly changing waters of the home care industry on at a virtual chapter meeting on Tuesday, February 28, from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., EST.

​Good leaders build successful businesses, retain workers, and handle tough situations well. Learn to become a better leader through the real examples and advice shared at tomorrow’s free webinar, “Hard-Earned Leadership Lessons with Three Top Home Care Leaders,” featuring HCAOA Board member and President & CEO of HomeCare of the Rockies Sandi McCann, Founder of Giving Care with Grace Vicki Demirozu, Former Home Care Pulse CEO Erik Madsen, and Careswitch’s Connor Kunz moderating. 

A new bill in Washington State could bring positive change to home care with increased access and timeliness of training and testing for home caregivers. Senate Bill 5278, sponsored by Senator Lynda Wilson, was introduced last week and HCAOA’s Washington lobbyist, Leslie Emerick, met with Sen. Wilson shortly afterward to express the association’s support for the bill.

March 29 is the day for all home care providers to come to Washington, D.C.
 
“As an industry, we can't complain that policymakers don't understand our business if we don't show up,” Chani Feldman, Chief Clinical & Government Affairs Officer, MGA Homecare, HCAOA Board Member.

​“We can't expect legislators to care about the medically complex and elderly population who need help in their homes and communities if we don't show up. Showing up and advocating for the clients we care for is essential. We are their voice. We are their champions. We must show up.”

​ HCAOA’s National Home Care Advocacy Day is set for March 29, with a Welcome   Reception the night before on March 28. Register for HCAOA National Home Care   Advocacy Day today.

Last week, President Joe Biden gave the annual State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, highlighting his Administration’s achievements and previewing his priorities moving forward. Constitutionally mandated, this was President Biden’s second SOTU speech, and contained several issues of importance to the home care industry.   

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), as reported in last week’s Home Care Insider, issued guidance, to all registered home care agencies in Connecticut, prohibiting them from using the word ‘care.’ The Department claims in its guidance that the word suggests medical services that are outside the scope of the registration credential and therefore requires a license from the Department of Public Health.
 
In response, the HCAOA Connecticut Chapter sent a letter to Governor Lamont opposing the Department’s guidance. 

Recruitment, training, and retention are some of the biggest challenges facing New Jersey home care providers. Learn tips and strategies to relieve some of your hiring, training and compensation headaches at the upcoming HCAOA New Jersey Chapter virtual meeting on Thursday, March 2, from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m., EST.

​Join fellow West Virginia home care providers and vendors for an informative, in-person state conference on Tuesday, April 18, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 

Join us for the HCAOA Georgia Chapter Conference, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., on Thursday, March 2, at the Georgia Freight Depot’s Blue Room, in Atlanta, for a deeper discussion of the legislative issues and advocacy plans in motion to address the challenges and opportunities facing home care in Georgia. With a solid line up of speakers of regulators, legislators, and leaders, attendees will help to move home care forward by learning about opportunities with caring for veterans, increasing the Medicare reimbursement rate, and advocacy plans for the year. 

Last week, HCAOA CEO Vicki Hoak met with majority and minority staff of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee to discuss HCAOA’s support of S. 141 - the Elizabeth Dole Act. During the meeting, it was confirmed that the Committee intends to eliminate Section 3 of the bill, which would have increased funding for home and community-based services, including Homemaker Home Health Aide services, citing the high costs of the increase as the reason. 
 
With so many HCAOA members providing care to thousands of veterans each year, HCAOA  sent a letter to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee urging them to keep this critical section in the bill. 

Questions and concerns abound when running a business. Having a good mentor helps, but sometimes the questions can feel too basic to ask.
 

Participate in the 2023 HCP Benchmarking Survey to provide objective data proving the value of the home care services and gain digital access to the report for free. The data in the report will help your organization to learn best practices, analyze performances, and make more informed decisions. 

The first Georgia Chapter conference of the year kicks off in Atlanta on March 2, with a solid line up of speakers including GA Department of Community Health Commissioner Caylee Noggle and Representative Butch Parrish, Chair of the House Special Committee on Health Care.
 
Greg Bean, Paradigm Senior Service’s VP for Business Development, will present on providing home care for our country’s veterans. Whether credentialed or considering it, learn insights on billing and how to become a provider of VA services.  

​This year’s National Home Care Conference will feature a special pre-conference for state chapter members and their leaders.
 
State Chapters: Effective Practices and Advocacy Efforts will welcome members to Chicago on Sunday, October 22, from 12:00 - 4:30 p.m. A VIP Reception will follow for all chapter leaders and other HCAOA committee members.  
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