A section of the Veteran Care Improvement Act (S.1315/H.R. 3520) would extend the timely filing for payment from 180 days to one year, a welcome change for many HCAOA members providing care to veterans. However, unless amended, it would not address the back payments owed to home care providers during the transition from the CHOICE program to the Community Care Network.

​Plans are in full swing for the HCAOA National Home Care Conference October 23-24 at the Hilton in downtown Chicago, THE premier national conference for home care organizations offering personal care. At HCAOA, our motto is “Members Matter Most,” and we work hard to ensure members get the greatest ROI on their investment. When you register to attend the full conference, you will also be registered to attend a half-day pre-conference program on October 22, “State Chapters: Effective Practices and Advocacy Efforts.” The pre-conference also includes an invitation to an exclusive VIP reception Sunday night before the main conference kicks off. Attendees will hear from compelling advocate and speaker Rachel Pearson, who is known for her bi-partisan collaboration bringing both sides of the aisle together for effective legislative solutions. Discuss successes and challenges with panels of your peers from a lobbying and leadership perspective.

​HCAOA is excited to announce that the cash prize awarded to the 2023 Caregiver of the Year will now be doubled from $1,000 to $2,000, thanks to an investment in our caregivers by HCAOA partner Careswitch. The overall winner will also receive an all-expenses paid trip to the HCAOA conference in Chicago to be recognized in front of industry leaders. 

Last week, HCAOA Board President Jeff Wiberg and CEO Vicki Hoak met with CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to discuss the Medicaid Proposed Rule, which would require 80% of Medicaid reimbursement to go to worker wages. HCAOA was one of four national groups in the meeting, including the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC), and the Partnership for Medicaid Home-Based Care (PMHC).

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is exploring the use of Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) for those providing homemaker/home health services. HCAOA will be submitting feedback on behalf of members, and we want to know your thoughts.

The state of Florida recently enacted legislation that will have a significant impact on employers across the state. Senate Bill 1718 (SB1718), which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law on May 10, requires private employers with 25 or more employees to use E-Verify for all new hires, effective July 1, 2023.

Yesterday, HCAOA was notified that the new CBO score (cost estimate) of the Elizabeth Dole Home and Community-Based Services Act, S.141/H.R. 542, is $200 million over ten years, significantly lower than the initial CBO score of $24 billion.  Responding to the new score, HCAOA CEO Vicki Hoak said that this is the result of great advocacy work by our members. “As soon as we saw the initial high estimate, we knew something was wrong, and urged the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee to ask for a rescore," Hoak said. "They agreed and while we waited for the new score, our members continued advocating for the Act, which now has 59 co-sponsors on H.R. 542 and 22 sponsors on S.141."

HCAOA is proud to announce we are sponsoring the first in a series of training and certification programs exclusively for home care providers. Mastering Home Care Marketing 101 is a five-week program that will equip home care agencies with the knowledge and skills to supercharge their marketing efforts and attract more clients than ever before. Through HCAOA’s partnership with 52 Weeks Marketing and ACHC, all HCAOA members receive a $60 discount on this unique five-part series.

Last week, the HCAOA Michigan Chapter held a virtual legislative update to discuss important issues including plans for legislation to fix the ongoing auto no fault issue in the state, as well as licensure.

HCAOA recently reported on a new study that found that many home care agencies may overestimate how engaged and fulfilled their caregivers are with their work: 73% of agencies said caregivers feel fulfilled, however, caregivers are three times more likely to experience anxiety and depression than the average U.S. population. We offer a solution: recognition. You can show your caregivers just how much you value the important work they do by nominating them for the 2023 Caregiver of the Year Award. It's easy - the nomination form is just four simple questions.

​All members in Virginia are invited to a virtual meeting with the HCAOA Virginia Chapter on Thursday, July 20 from 9:00am - 10:00am.  This meeting is free for HCAOA members, and registration is required.

​If you’ve been debating whether or not to attend the National Home Care Conference October 23-24 at the Hilton Chicago Hotel, the answer is YES and the time is NOW! We are just a few weeks out from the cut-off date of August 4 for early bird registration discounts.

​All members in California are invited to a virtual meeting with the HCAOA California Chapter on Tuesday, July 18 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. PST. This meeting is free for HCAOA members, and registration is required.