​A reminder that as of November 1, 2021, all providers of Personal Support Services (PSS) or Community Living Supports (CLS) through SOURCE, CCSP, NOW, COMP, ICWP, and / or GAPP should be regularly using EVV and submitting claims through the State EVV solution, Netsmart. The Georgia Department of Community Health reminds providers that there are three exceptions to the November 1 deadline:

​​Last week, the Illinois Board of Health’s Rules Committee met and voted to approve the draft home service rules, per the IDPH liaison. The draft rules will not advance to the full board for review during its meeting on December 9.

Federal government action to incentivize homeowners to modify their houses to make them safe for aging in place will help stave off the nation’s looming housing crisis for older Americans. These are the findings of a study given by HomesRenewed Resource Center’s Research Director Dr. Jesse M. Abraham to the Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific (virtual) Meeting earlier this month. 

​Last week, the Connecticut Department of Public Health began issuing civil penalties to long-term care facilities subject to Executive Order 13F, which mandates COVID-19 vaccinations for individuals who work in the facilities, the agency announced. Long-term care facilities subject to the EO include nursing homes, assisted living services agencies, managed residential communities, residential care homes, chronic disease hospitals, and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. “These vaccine mandates are in place to protect not only the patients and residents in long-term care but to ensure the health and safety of staff and their families and co-workers,” said DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD.

​HCAOA Associate Member Littler has been monitoring the latest OSHA ETS and CMS Rule developments related to the “vaccine or test” mandates and challenges around the country. There were at least 34 challenges to the OSHA ETS filed in 12 different courts of appeal around the country. On November 12, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued the first order enjoining enforcement and implementation of the OSHA’s ETS. Shortly thereafter, on November 16, all of the challenges filed around the country were consolidated before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. In addition, there are at least two lawsuits that have been filed challenging the CMS mandate.

​​This week, the HCAOA Michigan Chapter sent a letter to Governor Gretchen Whitmer on behalf of home care providers who care for hundreds of Michigan residents, including children and adults who require continuous care for injuries sustained in car accidents, who have had their care jeopardized due to new auto insurance reform that went into effect on July 2, 2021. Home care organizations have been providing care to these clients for many years, however now reimbursement from insurance companies has been slashed by 45 percent.

​​As 2021 draws to a close, HCAOA is looking back at a brand new member benefit that was launched this year. Agency Momentum is an expertly curated series of FREE monthly webinars exclusively for members. These hour-long, monthly webinars were designed to help agency owners drive performance by focusing on key aspects of business operations, including strategic planning, scheduling, caregiver recruitment, marketing, and HR and insurance solutions. Did you catch them all? If not, HCAOA has you covered with a recap of the year in member webinars with links to recordings

The HCAOA Georgia Chapter learned last week from DCH that the 10% Medicaid rate increase has received a preliminary approval pending a CMS request to conduct a rate study.  DCH is working on preparing the strategy for the rate study and will be involving providers in the rate study.  In the interim, DCH is working with CMS to get approval to go ahead with the rate increase while the rate study proceeds.  The HCAOA Georgia Chapter realizes that our Medicaid providers need this rate increase to cover the shortfalls since the last PSS rate increase in October 2014.  Stay tuned for updates. 

​Overall, the number of Medicare Advantage plans offering at least one of five recently expanded supplemental benefits – including home care – jumped 43% (575 to 824) from 2021 to 2022, while the number of plans offering more than one benefit increased 15% (175 to 202). A new brief released last week by Better Medicare Alliance (BMA) and prepared by the actuarial consulting firm Milliman highlights the continued expansion of supplemental benefits in Medicare Advantage for Contract Year 2022.

​​The HCAOA New Jersey State Chapter will hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday, December 1 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. to discuss the Chapter's strategic plan for 2022, including announcement of the first in-person meeting in two years.