Home Care Voice Blog

HCAOA New York Chapter Co-chair and owner of Right at Home – North Shore Long Island Zubin Kapadia met recently with New York State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-15) to discuss critical legislative matters. Sen. Addabbo said he supported the legislation to increase caregiver wages in the 2022 budget, which Kapadia also supports, and recognizes the need to incentivize and retain good aides. However, he noted that the legislation was driven principally by the proponents of labor, and thus the impact on private pay agencies and seniors was not fully considered. Zubin Kapadia stated, “I laid the blame for that on us as business owners to do more to educate the legislature on the downstream impact of these laws; i.e. private pay client rates will increase, families will be burdened with paying more out of pocket, and many will file for state Medicaid or go to the gray market for care. I noted that most of our clients are “family funded” and there is a huge misconception that private pay homecare is only for the wealthy. I mentioned that as opposed to Medicaid agencies, we will not get any offset in the form of higher reimbursements, and thus a tax credit would be the most appropriate way to protect seniors and level the playing field.”

A survey conducted by Essence SmartCare and Kantar has revealed that about 70% of older adults aging in place in the UK and France lack access to "advanced" monitoring systems, such as fall detection sensors and voice-activated alerts. The survey, which polled family members of elderly residents, highlights the stress and concerns faced by caregivers who are unable to monitor their parents effectively. Many respondents, slightly over half, live more than an hour away from their elderly relatives. A similar poll in the US last year also showed that 45% of respondents lived at least an hour's drive away from their extended family. Research indicates that monitoring systems can effectively reduce emergencies and healthcare visits, but the availability and quality of monitoring systems can vary significantly based on region and care setting.

HCAOA and members are continuing advocacy work continues on our top legislative priorities while Congress is on summer recess. HCAOA asks members for help on our three top issues: contact your U.S. Representative and Senator and ask them to sign on as a co-sponsor of these bills. It’s easy – we’ve pre-written the message for you!

As HCAOA looks ahead to Congress reconvening in September, we must remain vigilant in advocating on behalf of the home care industry. Decisions made by elected officials can significantly impact our sector, often without a full grasp of home care's invaluable role in the lives of millions of older Americans and individuals with disabilities. This is where HCAOA's strategic advocacy efforts come into play.

​HCAOA recognizes the critical importance of advocating for our members' interests at the federal and state levels. To continue effectively championing our cause, HCAOA relies on the dedicated efforts of lobbyists who work tirelessly to promote our mission. However, this undertaking comes with its financial demands.

Dallas-based healthcare private equity firm Havencrest Capital Management has announced the establishment of Avid Health at Home, a non-medical home care platform, following its acquisition of Chicago-based For Papa's Sake Home Care (FPS). FPS, a prominent provider of non-medical home care in the greater Chicago area, has earned recognition for its excellence, including being ranked as the #1 agency in North America by Home Care Pulse in 2022. Led by Havencrest Operating Partner Jen Lentz, Avid aims to offer quality person-to-person care through innovative technology and industry best practices. The firm plans to expand its presence across various regions and capitalize on opportunities to enhance home care with a focus on technology, training, and quality measures.

Read the full press release HERE.

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization have announced their consideration of merging. Both boards have signed a non-binding Letter of Intent to explore the potential combination, aiming to better address evolving patient needs in hospice and home care. This collaborative effort, initiated after a joint exploratory committee was formed in March, reflects the organizations' intention to enhance advocacy, projects, and partnerships to benefit their members and community-based care providers. For more information, please click HERE.

In 2019, a review conducted by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) denied approximately one out of every eight requests for prior authorization of healthcare services. The study examined 115 MCOs and discovered that 12 of them had prior authorization denial rates exceeding 25%, double the overall rate. The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) summarized the OIG report, which highlighted the lack of mechanisms for patients and providers to challenge MCO denials, and recommended that the CMS take several actions to improve oversight, including regular reviews of MCO prior authorization denials, data collection, issuing guidance to states, implementing external medical reviews, and addressing inappropriate denials.

​Time is of the essence! In just three days, the opportunity to honor your extraordinary caregivers for the prestigious Caregiver of the Year Award will come to a close. Don't let this chance slip through your fingers - nominate your exceptional caregiver before it's too late!

Last week, Governor Ned Lamont announced that he has signed into law legislation implementing procedures that protect seniors from suspected cases of financial fraud, scams, and exploitation by a person taking care of an older adult.

FirstLight Home Care has promoted Kerri Pendley, a member of the HCAOA’s Board of Directors, to the position of Chief Growth Officer. Her primary focus as the Chief Growth Officer will be driving business growth by identifying new avenues for revenue and establishing the necessary mechanisms to achieve those goals. She is known for her data-driven approach, predictability, and scalability, which she previously demonstrated by successfully developing the National Accounts department and expanding service offerings, including skilled care, at FirstLight.

Are you ready to revolutionize your agency's marketing efforts and experience an influx of new clients? Look no further! This five-week intensive program, in collaboration with 52 Weeks Marketing and ACHC, is here to equip you with the skills and knowledge to skyrocket your agency's growth. As a valued member of HCAOA, you automatically receive a special $60 discount on this training series.

The mandatory withholdings for the WA Cares Fund were implemented on July 1, 2023. Originating from the Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Trust Act, signed by Governor Jay Inslee on April 21, 2021, this state-operated long-term care insurance initiative requires employers to deduct premiums from their employees' payrolls, unless proof of exemption is provided. The enactment followed amendments outlined in H.R. 1732 and H.R. 1733, signed by Governor Inslee on January 27, 2022, which postponed and modified the withholding until July 1, 2023.

ATI Advisory recently released an analysis, in collaboration with the Better Medicare Alliance, demonstrating the impact of Medicare Advantage (MA) in addressing disparities among underserved communities. The study reveals a noteworthy trend, as Black and Asian Medicare-eligible beneficiaries exhibit a significantly higher preference for MA over Fee-for-Service (FFS) Medicare. This analysis illustrates the experiences of Medicare beneficiaries across different racial and ethnic backgrounds, shedding light on disparities and health equity opportunities. This research builds upon a Harvard Medical School and Inovalon study, emphasizing MA's role in serving socioeconomically disadvantaged demographics.

Family Resource Home Care has recently completed the acquisition of Companion Care, inc., a home care agency based in Woodinville, WA. The move is in line with Family Resource's strategic expansion plan to cover a substantial portion of the aging population in the Pacific Northwest. The acquisition adds to Family Resource's presence in the Puget Sound region, bringing their total locations to seven in that area and 29 across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
​