Krystal Wilkinson, HCAOA Arizona Chapter Chair and President of Adultcare Assistance (second from right), and Stephanie Roberts, Policy Leader with Team Services Group (left), recently met with two Arizona state representatives, Rep. Patty Contreras (D-12) and Rep. Judy Schwiebert (D-2), to discuss home-based care issues, including Medicaid reimbursement rates and how to ensure safety in home care in Arizona.

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and state health officials are launching a free online certification program aimed at certifying 10,000 new home care aides to address the increasing demand for home-based care workers in Wisconsin. The program offers a $500 bonus to certified individuals who remain employed for six months. Funding from the one-time bonus comes from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. With the impending shortage of caregivers in the state, the program comes at a critical time, and it provides free online training that covers 14 competency areas. Successful completion of the course leads to entry into an online registry, where employers can match caregivers with available positions. The program could potentially serve as a model for other states aiming to address similar caregiver shortages.

If you are a provider under the VA Community Care Network, you see first-hand how important home care is to our veterans and their families. That’s why HCAOA needs your help. Today, if a veteran’s home care costs reach 65% of the cost the Veterans’ Administration would pay for providing care in a nursing home, funding stops, and the veteran and their family would have to pay for the care.

Come experience David Rendall's Pink Goldfish: Defy Normal and Exploit Imperfection session, where he elaborates on an unconventional strategy to elevate and differentiate your business. If you want your business to stand out in a crowded marketplace, this Keynote Session is for you.

Jonah C. Francis, CDP, CSHSS, President of Pansy Homecare Service LLC in West Hartford, Conn., and vice chair of the HCAOA Connecticut Chapter, was recognized recently by the Hartford Business Journal (HBJ) with its prestigious 2023 40 Under Forty annual award. Mr. Francis also chairs the Chapter’s legislative and public policy committee.

As a caregiver, it is important to ensure the safety of seniors at home during various weather emergencies like hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes. Always Best Care Senior Services provides helpful tips for seniors and their caregivers to keep in mind for weather emergencies. They recommend keeping the home care agency's number readily available, creating emergency kits that include special considerations for seniors, notifying power companies about reliance on electric-powered medical equipment, and having essentials like flashlights, batteries, and medical supplies on hand. Removing trip hazards in the home and maintaining a week's worth of medication, water, non-perishable food, and important documents are also suggested. The company highlights that such measures significantly reduce injury risks and improve seniors' comfort during power outages and emergencies.

Software provider Rosemark has announced a new partnership with Paradigm, which helps agencies interact with third-party payors, such as VA and Medicaid. The partnership aims to streamline operations, support billing to various payors, and improve efficiency for home care agencies.

An article entitled, “Price of elder care soars as demand increases, baby boomers age,” was published on TheHill.com on August 13, 2023. The article discusses how the cost of caring for aging or ailing family members in the U.S. has risen dramatically in recent years in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and adult day centers. With insufficient support from programs like Medicare and Medicaid, many family caregivers are forced to deplete their limited funds to cover expenses.

The "sandwich generation" in the United States, consisting of adults aged 40 to 59 who care for both their aging parents and their own children, is facing substantial challenges. Traditionally, individuals in this age group became empty nesters, but recent findings from the Pew Research Center reveal that 54% of parents in their 40s are now simultaneously caring for seniors and providing financial support to their adult children.

Helper Bees’ general manager, Daniel Murphy, has been appointed to serve on the federal Family Caregiving Advisory Council. Murphy, an Army veteran who has over 25 years of leadership experience in the aging services industry, will serve on the Council from 2023 to 2026. In this role, he will recommend to the Administration for Community Living ways to improve support for family caregivers across the country.

Alaska recently passed legislation (SB.57) to expand home care access for aging adults and others requiring assistance with daily living through a new Medicaid service called "adult home care,” expected to affect 2,500 residents. Signed into law on July 29 as part of the governor's Healthy Families Initiative, the option will enable more individuals to receive medical and personal care at home rather than having to move into costlier institutional settings like nursing homes. The law is part of Alaska's efforts to improve health equity and meet the needs of older adults within their communities.

HCAOA continues efforts to highlight the negative impact of CMS’ proposed rule that would require states to ensure at least 80 percent of all Medicaid HCBS payments are spent on compensation for direct care workers, such as nurses, home health aides, and others who directly support Medicaid beneficiaries in activities of daily living at home. The remaining 20 percent of payments would be expected to cover all other HCBS operating expenses.

The 2023 HCAOA National Home Care Conference is at record-breaking registrations! With that in mind, do not wait to make your hotel reservations! The Hilton Chicago is a gorgeous, historic property with 1,544 guest rooms offering a full suite of amenities and outstanding dining options.

Overlooking Grant Park, Lake Michigan, and Museum Campus, attendees will be situated on Michigan Avenue, where incredible experiences are around every corner. Walk to Solider Field for game days or concerts, enjoy many festivals at Grant Park, or explore the Pilsen neighborhood– known for one of the best museums in the city, and booming bar and restaurant scenes.

CMS announced it is addressing a data breach that occurred in Progress Software's MOVEit Transfer software on the corporate network of Maximus Federal Services, Inc. a contractor to the Medicare program. The breach involved personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI) of Medicare beneficiaries. HHS and CMS confirm that no systems belonging to them were impacted by the breach. Letters are being sent to potentially affected individuals, notifying them of the breach and explaining the steps being taken in response. It is estimated that around 612,000 current Medicare beneficiaries may have been affected.

Starting September 11, 2023, applicants will no longer use the Department of Health's credentialing process. Instead, they will directly register and pay for exams through Prometric. After submitting their credentialing applications to the Department of Health, applicants will receive email notifications from Prometric to schedule their exams. While English language exam applicants can self-schedule and pay online, those requiring interpreters or special accommodations will still require assistance from a Prometric advocate. The Department of Health will provide training resources, including guides and videos for the new scheduling process, with a voucher system for bulk payments. Prometric's webpage will have updated information as the transition to direct scheduling approaches.

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