The Administration for Community Living (ACL) has secured $3 million in funding over four years for the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. ACL will grant a cooperative agreement to undertake a national project aiming to advance programs authorized by the Older Americans Act, specifically the National Family Caregiver Support Program and the Native American Caregiver Support Program. The project will focus on providing technical assistance and capacity building activities for aging, tribal, and kinship support networks to strengthen financial and workplace security for family caregivers. This initiative aligns with President Biden's Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers, signed on April 18, 2023, which enhances caregiving support.

Register for the 2024 HCAOA National Home Care Conference in Seattle, WA, by November 10 and pay 2023 registration rates. The price will increase in 2024, so register today and save!

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has introduced a significant change in the definition of "joint employer" under the National Labor Relations Act. The new rule, effective from October 27, 2023, expands the criteria for two or more companies to be considered joint employers of the same employees. Under this rule, joint employment is established when these companies "share or codetermine those matters governing employees' essential terms and conditions of employment," including factors such as wages, benefits, work scheduling, hiring, discipline, and more. A notable change is the consideration of both direct evidence of control and evidence of reserved and indirect control over these essential employment terms.

November is a month that holds a special place in our hearts. It's a time to recognize and honor the thousands of HCAOA member organizations and their caregivers who make a tremendous difference in the lives of countless families. National Home Care Month and & Family Caregiver Month is a time to express our deepest gratitude to the home-based care community. Your unwavering dedication is truly remarkable, and HCAOA is deeply thankful for everything you do!

Get ready to revolutionize your marketing with the "Mastering Home Care Marketing 201" program! This three-part series course is tailored exclusively for home care agencies, empowering you with the knowledge and skills to take your marketing strategies to the next level.

HCAOA announced the 2023 National Caregiver of the Year last week at the National Home Care Conference in Chicago. Eulodia Ortiz, a dedicated caregiver from Visiting Angels in Matawan, NJ, was recognized in front of more than 700 industry leaders. Eulodia's exceptional commitment to her clients and their families stood out among more than 500 nominees from across nearly all 50 states.

Holly Haringa has joined HCAOA Associate Member Corcoran Consulting Group LLC as Director of Operations and Consultant. She oversees the group’s marketing efforts, client and consultant coordination, and administrative support functions, collaborates with Corcoran team members, and supports the goals of its home care agency clients. Haringa’s operational experience includes business analytics, optimization of workflows, the management of gross margins, and the improvement of revenue, all leading to increased profitability.

In a recent policy report, the Better Medicare Alliance (BMA) recommended a set of solutions aimed at enhancing Medicare Advantage for beneficiaries and the broader Medicare program. A critical aspect of these proposed solutions is ensuring a stable payment environment to maintain affordable, high-quality care for beneficiaries and enable innovation in benefit design and care delivery. This stability is crucial, given the ongoing regulatory changes in Medicare Advantage. 

In Washington state, the new Nursing Assistant skills test went into effect on October 1, 2023. The purpose of the change is to increase access to skills testing following graduation. Graduates will be expected to pass the skills test before registering for the written test, which saves steps and time in the testing and certification process. By 2024, most nursing assistant training programs will provide skills testing routinely after graduation. One of the biggest changes is graduates will no longer register for the skills test on Credentia365 but will continue to use the platform to obtain their Candidate ID number.

The 2023 National Home Care Conference was a huge success, with record-breaking attendance and an exhibit hall that sold out not once but three times! This year’s conference boasted a nearly 40% increase in registrants compared to 2022, with the largest assembly of exhibitors in the home care industry, numbering over 100 and over 50 speakers addressing crucial industry topics; it was an event to remember.

Last week, the National Labor Relations Board (the ‘Board’) issued a final rule for joint-employer status that will make it far more likely for one business to be deemed a joint employer of another business’s employees under the National Labor Relations Act. The new rule eliminates the clear standards the current rule provides, making it harder for some employers to forecast risks associated with their relationships with providers, vendors, subcontractors, and franchisees.

HCAOA is seeking volunteers to serve on several Association committees. Committee members can enhance their resumes, give back to the industry, and help influence the direction of our association, and the home care industry as a whole.