HCAOA members are invited to register for Polsinelli's Home Care Industry Update on December 5 at 12:00 p.m. ET. HCAOA CEO Jason Lee will participate in a panel discussion with representatives from Polsinelli, The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), and The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare (PQHH) for a discussion on the current political climate of the federal and state governments and the impact the election results will likely have on several key initiatives that impact the home-based care industry. These include a forecast of the future of the FTC’s ban on non-competes, immigration reform, federal independent contractor, joint employment and safety standards, regulation of artificial intelligence tools, the implementation of the 80/20 provision of the Medicaid Access Rule, and the all-important future of reimbursement rates. Our speakers will also review the outcomes of the state elections and which jurisdictions providers can expect to be particularly active in regulating your businesses.

Last Friday, U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan of the United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas, issued a permanent injunction against a Biden administration overtime pay rule aimed at expanding eligibility to millions of salaried workers, halting the implementation of a rule that could have significantly impacted the home care industry and its workforce. The full decision may be read by clicking here.

HCAOA is excited to announce that the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support. This milestone follows over a year of advocacy from thousands of HCAOA members. More than 3,000 messages were sent to Capitol Hill, and hundreds participated in the 2024 HCAOA Home Care Advocacy Day. HCAOA members succeeded in raising awareness about the importance of strengthening services for veterans and their families.

​Local Leads is a "Done For You" sales and marketing agency specializing in home care. Their team integrates with your brand, setting up consultations on your behalf. When potential clients reach out, they interact with the dedicated team at Local Leads, but they’ll experience it as if they’re talking directly to your business. Local Leads present a unified front, ensuring consistency and professionalism in every interaction. Their team manages SEO, social media, and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising that drives leads to your business. Every strategy is tailored to your business, ensuring only qualified prospects come through. Connect with Local Leads to learn how they can grow your business.

Members in Ohio gathered last week during the HCAOA Ohio Chapter Conference in Columbus to get tips on home care licensure & recertification from Andrea Denning, Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Survey and Certification at the Ohio Department of Health. HCAOA CEO Jason Lee led a roundtable discussion addressing issues that are top of mind for Ohio members. The meeting concluded with an update on advocacy priorities, which included a special election recap and Ohio labor law updates from Dinsmore & Shohl LLP representatives...Jan Hensel, Partner, and Tyler Parrish, Law Clerk.

​The South Carolina Department of Public Health hosted a stakeholder call on November 12 to discuss their new proposed regulations, R. 61-6122, Standards for Licensing In-Home Care Providers. During the call, providers sought clarity on a number of proposed regulations, including those related to background checks and drug testing requirements, which HCAOA is currently reviewing.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro recently signed two bills aimed at improving home care and hospice services. House Bill 155 allows healthcare providers, including home care agencies, to use remote video technology for interviewing direct care workers, streamlining the recruitment process. Senate Bill 1080 enables licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to pronounce death in home hospice settings, enhancing end-of-life care. These changes are expected to improve recruitment efforts and increase efficiency in delivering care, which is especially important as demand for home-based services grows. 

​As 2025 rapidly approaches, HCAOA is working with state chapters and industry partners to ensure home care is prioritized in state legislatures across the country next session. Check out this resource, which shares state-by-state legislative session dates for 2025. As 2025 sessions kick off, HCAOA will keep you equipped with advocacy resources, breaking policy updates, and opportunities to take action and bolster advocacy efforts happening in your state. If you’d like to learn more about how to get involved in advocacy efforts in your state, please reach out to [email protected]. 

Your voice has been heard! HCAOA is pleased to announce the following leaders have been elected/re-elected to serve a three-year term on the HCAOA Board of Directors. 

The 2024 National Home Care Conference was another record breaker, with nearly 700 attendees and a sold-out exhibit hall! Attendees and exhibitors alike raved about the dynamic keynote speakers and the thoughtful content of the breakout sessions. If you attended and have not completed the brief survey, please click here to provide feedback so we can begin planning for next year’s event. 

Change management plays a key role in healthcare, given its dynamic nature, the need for continuous improvement, and the adoption of new technologies and practices. Whether you want to implement technology, upgrade quality improvement initiatives, or focus on workforce development, this virtual event is for you. Enhance your organization’s ability to adapt to changes while maintaining a high-performing workforce.

Please take a moment to watch this special invitation from HCAOA Ohio Chapter Chair Aaron Stapleton to attend the HCAOA Ohio Chapter Conference on Thursday, November 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Hilton Columbus Downtown Hotel.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized a home health prospective payment rule for 2025 that includes a 0.5% aggregate increase in Medicare home health reimbursement, translating to approximately $85 million. This adjustment marks a shift from the proposed 1.7% decrease, reflecting ongoing adjustments related to the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM). Despite this improvement, stakeholders in the home health sector expressed dissatisfaction, emphasizing that the overall trend has been toward significant cuts and insufficient recognition of inflationary pressures on costs.

All members in California are invited to a special virtual meeting on November 21 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. PT to meet and hear from Jude de la Concepcion, the new Branch Chief of the Home Care Service Branch (HCSB) at the California Department of Social Services, as she shares updates and answers your questions.