CMS has announced a proposed decrease in payments to Medicare-certified home health agencies for FY 2025. The aggregate reduction amounts to 1.7%, totaling approximately $280 million. This includes a permanent prospective adjustment of -4.067% to the home health payment rate under the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM). Despite a proposed 2.5% payment increase for FY 2025, this is offset by a 3.6% estimated decrease in proposed permanent behavior adjustments and a 0.6% decrease due to a proposed fixed-dollar loss ratio (FDL), according to CMS.

Last week, HCAOA CEO Jason Lee provided an update on HCAOA’s efforts around the CMS 80/20 rule during the Home Care Industry Update hosted by Polsinelli. Lee provided an overview of the recent CMS meeting, emphasizing the discussions were collaborative and ongoing advocacy against the 80/20 provision, highlighting HCAOA’s active H.R.8114 letter of support in removing the 80/20 provision. The conversation was productive, fostering continued dialogue with CMS, which is crucial for the industry. Lee also updated on other HCAOA efforts, including meeting with members of Congress on the Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act.

This webinar will help states by:
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• Highlighting the types of direct support professionals (DSPs) that deliver home and community-based services (HCBS);
• Discussing the causes and challenges contributing to HCBS workforce shortages; and
• Highlighting strategies states can use to address HCBS provider shortages.

The Preview Program for the 2024 HCAOA National Home Care Conference is now available! The brochure details speakers, sessions, sponsors, and more for the upcoming October 28-29 conference in Seattle-Bellevue, WA.

As of July 1, the Georgia Department of Community Health notified the HCAOA Georgia Chapter that the Medicaid billing system is NOT yet set up to accept the updated rates for the Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP) and Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP). However, the rate increases ARE effective as of July 1, so payment will be retroactive once the system is updated with the new rates.

California’s new Health Care Workers Minimum Wage Law (S.B. 525), set to take effect July 1, has been delayed until October 15 at the earliest. Therefore, employers do NOT have to pay the higher minimum wage for health care facilities that was scheduled to go into effect on July 1, according to HCAOA Associate Member Attorney Bob King of Legally Nanny.

All providers are invited to participate in CMS’ Open Door Forum on Tuesday, July 30 at 2:00 p.m. for an  overview of the home and community-based services (HCBS) provisions in the Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services Final Rule, including a deeper dive on what is commonly referred to as the “HCBS payment adequacy provision.”

On July 1, 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills, Senate Bill 92 and Assembly Bill 2288, that amend the state’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), which deputizes private parties to enforce the Labor Code on behalf of the state.

​While the state minimum wage increases on January 1 of each year, local minimum wages usually increase on July 1. Employers with employees in Alameda, Belmont, Berkeley, Burlingame, Cupertino, Daly City, East Palo Alto, El Cerrito, Emeryville, Foster City, Fremont, Half Moon Bay, Hayward, Los Altos, Los Angeles (city and county), Malibu, Menlo Park, Milpitas, Mountain View, Novato, Oakland, Palo Alto, Pasadena, Petaluma, Redwood City, Richmond, San Carlos, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Leandro, San Mateo (city and county), Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Santa Monica, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, South San Francisco, Sunnyvale and West Hollywood should doublecheck their local ordinances to make sure they are paying the latest minimum wage.

As of 7/1, California employers must have a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan in place. The state has published a model plan, which can be viewed here.