Yesterday, the California Department of Social Services issued a Provider Information Notice alerting home care organizations that all registered home care aides must be vaccinated against COVID by November 30. However there are two exemptions to this rule: Declining vaccination based on religious beliefs or excused from receiving the vaccine due to qualifying medical reasons. 

​The Connecticut legislature, at the recent call of Governor Ned Lamont, met in special session this week to extend the Governor’s emergency authority through February 15, 2022. This was the sixth extension of the Governor’s emergency powers since March 2020, according to the Hartford Courant. Most of the hundreds of executive orders issued by the Governor since then have expired but about a dozen remain, including one requiring vaccinations for workers in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

​A new report, Medicaid Forward: Long-term Services and Supports, from the National Association of Medicaid Directors, describes the stark realities facing our long-term care system, and opportunities for state Medicaid leaders and their federal partners to respond. The report specifically focuses on how states can use the recent investments Congress made in the American Rescue Plan Act to support this work. In this law, Congress made an initial investment of more than $9 billion to expand access to home- and community-based services and to strengthen the direct care workforce.

The unique nature of the home care industry can make it more difficult to collect data. That’s why HCAOA is conducting a brief survey of home care agencies to learn about the specific challenges members are experiencing related to the COVID vaccine and staffing at this critical moment in time. These responses will help guide HCAOA’s advocacy efforts on behalf of members. Please take just a few minutes to complete this important survey today. ​

​This is a big week in Washington as the fate of both infrastructure plans – bridges and roads, and the social/human infrastructure plans – are up for votes. HCAOA’s advocacy efforts have focused on the latter plan proposed by the Biden Administration because it includes, among many other safety net issues, better access to home care; improved wages for workers and child care benefits, which are frequently cited as a cause for home care’s workforce shortage. Should the measure pass in the House it will likely be trimmed down in the Senate as Democrats do not have the votes to pass the measure in the Senate.

Have you registered for the HCAOA Learning Lab yet? The event kicks off in just a few days! HCAOA is excited to present this groundbreaking new series that will allow attendees to utilize the pre-recorded content at their own pace and convenience. Wondering what to expect from this series? HCAOA is here to break it down. Below you can find the launch date schedule for each Learning Lab. ​

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​Last week on September 22, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for select groups - including seniors and frontline workers. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that the following groups should receive a booster shot: ​

​HCAOA members in Georgia - if you are a provider of Personal Support Services (PSS) or Community Living Supports (CLS) through SOURCE, CCSP, NOW, COMP, ICWP, and / or GAPP, at this point in time, you should have Registered for the State EVV solution and successfully submitted at least one claim per EVV-applicable Medicaid ID.

​HCAOA members in the state are invited to attend the Illinois Chapter Conference from November 8-9. In a hot topic session led by Chris Mercer, Director of Market Growth, Hireology, attendees will learn about new ways to attract applicants, get a process in place to manage an influx of candidate activity, and roster the right professionals. This year, healthcare agencies have never felt more pressure to provide quality care, and the demand for caregivers has never been greater. With health and safety challenges, along with the economic downturn related to COVID-19, traditional recruitment methods are simply not working to meet the demand of today’s agencies. ​

​HCAOA partner Odell Studner recently released a guide for employers to break down what is and is not yet known so far about President Biden’s vaccine mandate and the new OSHA rule. ​