​HCAOA member SYNERGY HomeCare announced that Louwana Ball has joined the organization as Vice President of Operations. A part of the organization’s senior management team, Ball will report to Chief Executive Officer Charlie Young and play a key role in accelerating the franchise system’s growth. Ball brings more than 15 years of progressive company and franchise operations experience to the SYNERGY HomeCare team.

​HCAOA is looking for volunteers to serve on workgroups for the Home Care Workforce Action Alliance, which was formed in May by HCAOA and the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) to make recommendations to address the critical home care aide and nurse workforce shortage. Anyone interested in being part of this national industry effort should send their name, agency, and contact information to info@hcaoa.org no later than August 1. This work will entail zoom meetings from September-November, with final recommendations completed by December. These recommendations will be shared with members of Congress, federal officials, and other interested stakeholders.

​Lockton Affinity, home care insurance specialist and HCAOA member, is now offering a free online safety training course for caregivers. This interactive 45-minute course "Keeping Caregivers Safe at Work" addresses injury statistics, techniques to protect against workplace injuries, tips on what to do if an injury occurs, and more. Home care business owners can take the course themselves and use it with all of their caregivers—all at no cost.

Earlier this month, Connecticut announced the launch of ReEmployCT, the state’s new unemployment tax and benefits system. Replacing a 40-year-old unemployment system, ReEmployCT serves approximately 115,000 businesses in Connecticut that pay into the Unemployment Trust Fund, as well as unemployed workers who are eligible for benefits.

​CMS has announced the first-ever home and community-based services (HCBS) quality measure set. This voluntary measure set is intended to promote consistent quality metrics within and across state Medicaid HCBS programs.

​Last week, HCAOA launched the Bring the Vote Home campaign designed to educate elected officials about home care by inviting them into the homes of our clients (their constituents!) to learn first-hand how home care makes such a profound difference in the lives of those who rely on it. Not sure who your elected officials are, or how to contact them? Not sure what to say? HCAOA has you covered…

​Beginning January 1, 2023, Washington employers with 15 or more employees will be required to publish, on every job posting, the wage scale or salary range and a "general description of all of the benefits and other compensation to be offered to the hired applicant." They must also provide this information for internal transfers upon request.

​Register now for the HCAOA Florida State Chapter Meeting on Thursday, August 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Hilton Orlando Hotel. Kim Smoak, Deputy Secretary of Health Quality Assurance, AHCA, will be on hand to share regulatory updates and answer questions from providers. And Angelo Spinola, Polsinelli, will provide the latest labor law news and updates for home care agencies.

​Last week, the Better Medicare Alliance released we just released the 2022 State of Medicare Advantage report, which compiles the latest research and data to deliver a comprehensive picture of the Medicare Advantage experience today – from beneficiary demographics and enrollment trends to supplemental benefit offerings and consumer savings, to health outcomes and bipartisan support in Washington.

​HCAOA invests nearly $400,000 every year to retain dedicated lobbyists in 10 states, in addition to our lobbyist in Washington D.C. to focus on national issues impacting home care. We stand by this investment because it is critical to our core mission of advocacy on behalf of members, but we need your help. Members are asked to contribute to the HCAOA Advocacy Fund to help offset the ever-increasing costs of retaining state lobbyists so we can continue to grow state-level advocacy efforts and build upon our successes.

​If you have not yet registered for HCAOA’s Annual Leadership Conference September 17-19 in Orlando – what are you waiting for?! The early bird registration deadline is fast approaching. Register by August 5 to save.

​The California Department of Aging (CDA) is designing a statewide training and incentive program called California GROWs (Growing a Resilient and Outstanding Workforce). California GROWs will incentivize, support, and fund career pathways for the direct care home and community-based services (HCBS) workforce. The program seeks to improve the skills, job satisfaction, and retention of the direct care workforce while providing opportunities for advancement.

​Without data, your home care agency may fall behind. The healthcare and health insurance reimbursement landscape is changing rapidly. From the changes in Medicare Advantage plans in 2018 to the spotlight on home care provided by the pandemic and our rapidly aging population, healthcare providers’ and insurers’ interest in the potential benefits of home care has grown and will continue. 

A new Basic Caregiver Training Emergency Rule (WSR 22-15-020) has been refiled in Washington state, effective July 12, 2022. The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) filed rules effective July 1, 2022 as WSR 22-12-081 to outline dates by which HCAs must complete basic caregiver training based on hire and rehire dates. These dates may extend through September 30, 2023, or within 120 days after the end of the COVID-19 training waivers established by the governor, whichever is later.