Member Login | Join HCAOA
Home Care Association of America
  • Membership Resources
    • Member Login
    • Code of Conduct
    • Resources
    • Newsletters
    • Product & Services Guide
    • Join HCAOA
    • Benefits: Agency Membership
    • Benefits: Associate Membership
  • State Chapters
    • Alabama
    • Arizona
    • California
    • Connecticut
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Illinois
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • South Carolina
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
  • Education/Events
    • Calendar
    • National Home Care Conference >
      • 2023 Call for Speakers
  • Advocacy/Policy
    • Bring the Vote Home
    • Advocacy Fund
    • State of Home Care: Industry at Crossroads
    • Home Care Workforce Action Alliance
    • Caring for Seniors: Value of Home Care
    • Home Care by the Numbers
    • Issues & Positions
    • Legislative Action Network
    • State Legislation Tracker
    • Federal Legislation Tracker
  • About HCAOA
    • Mission & Vision
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • Caregiver of the Year Award
    • News Releases
    • Advertising & Marketing
    • The Voice
    • Contact Us
  • Find a Job

BREAKING NEWS: Congress Releases Spending Bill, Includes EARN Act Provision Supported by HCAOA!

12/21/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
​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. 
PictureEric Reinarman, HCAOA VP of Government Affairs
​The provision eliminates the 10% penalty for early withdrawals when used for this purpose. A maximum of $2,500 can be distributed annually from a retirement account for this purpose. This amount will be updated annually for cost-of-living adjustments. (Sec. 334 of the Act).
 
Inclusion of this provision follows months of intense advocacy from HCAOA and its members, who sent countless messages to their legislators in support of home care.
 
“HCAOA is very excited that leaders of both parties understand the importance of helping families get the home care they want and deserve,” said Eric Reinarman, HCAOA‘s Vice President of Government Affairs. “This represents the latest step in what we hope is an ever-increasing commitment to both family caregivers and family-funded home care.”
 
HCAOA was pleased that the agreement extends both the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration program and the Medicaid Protections Against Spousal Impoverishment for Recipients of Home and Community Based Services through the 2027 fiscal year.
 
There is disappointment that the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act was not included in the final agreement. The Congressional Budget Office provided an unfavorable score on the bill, estimating its implementation cost at over $16 billion.
 
HCAOA will continue working with the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in the next Congress to seek enactment of this bill which would lift reimbursements for home care services. The good news remains that the Omnibus bill contains a provision requiring to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a strategy for addressing the long-term care needs of Veterans. (Sec. 161 of the Act)
 
Also discouraging was the absence of the Homecare for Seniors Act in the final agreement. This commonsense bill would have allowed funds in health savings accounts to be used to cover home care expenses. Senator Sinema (I-AZ), the sponsor of the bill, made a personal plea to have the bill included, but her request was not granted. HCAOA thanks Senator Sinema for her strong support and efforts. HCAOA will continue to encourage Congress to enact this important legislation.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020

    Categories

    All
    Accreditation
    Arizona
    Award
    California
    Caregiver
    Chapters
    Conference
    Connecticut
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    Data
    Delaware
    Education
    Florida
    Georgia
    Illinois
    Kansas
    Kentucky
    Legal
    Legislative
    Massachusetts
    Medi
    Medicaid
    Medicare
    Member Benefits
    Member News
    Michigan
    Minnesota
    New Jersey
    New York
    Ohio
    Pennsylvania
    Research
    Rhode Island
    South Carolina
    South Dakota
    Sponsorships
    Veterans Administration
    Virginia
    Washington
    West Virginia
    Wisconsin
    Workforce

    RSS Feed

    Upcoming Events

Phone: 202-519-2960​ | 444 N. Capitol Street NW, Suite 428 |  Washington, DC 20001
info@hcaoa.org
 |
sitemap
​

© 2020 Home Care Association of America.  All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Refund Policy
Picture
  • Membership Resources
    • Member Login
    • Code of Conduct
    • Resources
    • Newsletters
    • Product & Services Guide
    • Join HCAOA
    • Benefits: Agency Membership
    • Benefits: Associate Membership
  • State Chapters
    • Alabama
    • Arizona
    • California
    • Connecticut
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Illinois
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • South Carolina
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
  • Education/Events
    • Calendar
    • National Home Care Conference >
      • 2023 Call for Speakers
  • Advocacy/Policy
    • Bring the Vote Home
    • Advocacy Fund
    • State of Home Care: Industry at Crossroads
    • Home Care Workforce Action Alliance
    • Caring for Seniors: Value of Home Care
    • Home Care by the Numbers
    • Issues & Positions
    • Legislative Action Network
    • State Legislation Tracker
    • Federal Legislation Tracker
  • About HCAOA
    • Mission & Vision
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • Caregiver of the Year Award
    • News Releases
    • Advertising & Marketing
    • The Voice
    • Contact Us
  • Find a Job