​This week, the White House announced a new, limited round of free at-home COVID-19 tests for Americans. Both standard and low-vision tests are available. 

​HCAOA advocates for members and the home care industry all year long—at both state and national levels—through dedicated lobbyists and staff efforts. This investment is a large part of HCAOA’s annual spending, which is critical in helping to represent our members in both Congress and state legislatures.  

​Make the most of your membership and make a difference in the home care agency by getting involved with your state chapter in the new year. State chapters are always looking for more volunteers to serve on various committees including legislative, Medicaid or on the Chapter Board.

​With heavy hearts and much sorrow, the HCAOA Connecticut Chapter mourns the loss of its chairman Mark T. McGoldrick of New Canaan, who died last week at age 62. 

Last week, CMS announced a proposed rule to strengthen protections for Medicare Advantage coverage, expand access to behavioral health care, and promote equitable coverage for Medicare Advantage members. The proposed rule is in response to a July Request for Information that drew nearly 4,000 commenters on ways to improve Medicare Advantage. HCAOA submitted comments on behalf of our members.

​News provided by HCAOA Partner Porcanin Law
Earlier this year, HCAOA encouraged members to support a home care agency tax credit to offset the rising minimum wage for home care workers. Thank you to those of you who responded.
 
Home care agencies worked to offset the rising minimum wage costs, but there are concerns that some of the information regarding the raise in minimum wage may have been misinterpreted.

​Happy holidays! Thank you for your support for the Home Care Association of America this year. 2022 has been an exciting year for the home care industry.
 
Thanks to the education and advocacy efforts by HCAOA, partner organizations, home care providers, and family caregivers, we are witnessing a shift in perspective about senior care in our country. The value of home care is increasing within families and communities and their words about what we offer are echoing in the halls of our state capitols and Congress. Change is coming. 

​Democratic and Republican legislators released a massive $1.7 trillion 2023 omnibus spending bill early this morning, setting up a race to the finish line for the 117th Congress by the end of this week.
 
HCAOA is proud to announce that the bill includes an HCAOA-supported provision to make it easier for individuals and families to cover home care expenses and other home- and community-based services by allowing retirement account distributions for payment of long-term care insurance premiums. 

​Members matter most at the Home Care Association of America. Throughout the year, the HCAOA team works diligently to provide practical resources, excellent training, up-to-date information affecting home care, and effective advocacy. 

​According to “Language Use in the United States: 2019,” the number of people in the United States who spoke another language other than English at home nearly tripled over the past 40 years—growing from 23.1 million in 1980 to 67.8 million in 2019. The number of people who spoke only English grew by about one-fourth.

​HCAOA knows your time is important, so we are making it easier than ever to get involved with your state chapter. Chapter leaders and staff have scheduled chapter events for the full 2023 calendar year.

​Recently, HCAOA Washington Chapter Chair Sharla Bode held a meeting to discuss the state of the home care industry and home care’s workforce crisis with State Representative Kelly Chambers (R-25th). 

​Throughout the year, HCAOA has invested time and resources into advocating for the home care industry at both a state and national level. In addition to the work the HCAOA staff does, the association also invests in dedicated lobbyists in nearly a dozen states and in Washington D.C. HCAOA and our Board believe the investment is critical to our core mission of advocacy on behalf of members.