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HCAOA submitted formal comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services March 30 in response to its Request for Information on its CRUSH initiative — short for Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare — which seeks public input on new regulations to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in federal health care programs.
HCAOA Connecticut has advocated for years for a Medicaid rate increase for home care.
The legislature’s Human Services Committee heard those calls and approved House Bill 5561 unanimously on March 19. Families caring for medically fragile children and adults rely on continuous skilled nursing services to keep their loved ones safe at home. Yet Medicaid’s policies governing these essential services haven’t kept pace with the changing needs of patients, caregivers, or providers. Outdated language, inconsistent regulatory expectations, and unclear quality standards have created barriers that directly impact access to care
Federal policy decisions are increasingly shaping the future of home care, making a strong and credible presence in Washington, D.C., more important than ever. HCAOA is bringing our network together for an exclusive briefing to connect Advocacy Fund supporters with the policy insight and advocacy strategy driving our work on Capitol Hill.
As we head into 2026, we’re bringing our network together for a Chapter Town Hall on February 19 at 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. EST focused on shared priorities, advocacy momentum, and what’s coming next for home care.
HCAOA is pleased to invite Advocacy Fund contributors to an exclusive Capitol Club Advocacy Briefing on January 22 from 3:00–3:30 PM ET featuring Congressman Mike Carey (R-OH-15), sponsor of the Credit for Caring Act. This 30-minute briefing will offer members a firsthand look at the legislative outlook for caregiver tax credits and other federal priorities impacting home care directly from a leader shaping the conversation in Congress.
 November is Home Care & Hospice Month—a special time to recognize the dedicated caregivers who make it possible for millions of Americans to receive care, comfort, and independence at home. Whether providing daily support, companionship, or specialized care, these professionals are the heart of our industry. Their compassion, commitment, and resilience ensure that clients can live safely and with dignity where they feel most comfortable—at home. This month and every month, we celebrate and thank all home care workers for the incredible difference they make in people’s lives each day.
HCAOA Members,
We are pleased to introduce the five new seats, three corporate and two independent, on the 2026 Board of Directors. The board is here to support you and work together to improve the home care industry across the country. Thank you for your participation and support in the election this year! HCAOA will submit formal comments to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in response to its 2025 Request for Information (RFI) on noncompete and related employment agreements.
In our comment, HCAOA will emphasize that noncompete clauses are rare in the home care industry and that most agencies sometimes rely on limited direct-hire or non-solicitation provisions. These clauses protect client continuity and help agencies recover training and recruitment costs without restricting caregiver mobility. For the first time in nearly seven years, the federal government is on the brink of a shutdown. Unless Congress acts by midnight on September 30, agencies will begin closing their doors and furloughing staff. The standoff is the product of a long and bitter fight over federal spending, policy priorities, and partisan divisions.
 HCAOA is asking ALL members for help to permanently overturn the restrictive companionship exemption rules put in place in 2013. Thanks to your persistent advocacy and the strength of our members speaking together, HCAOA is making tremendous progress in getting the caregiver exemption restored, but we need YOUR voice to get this goal across the finish line!
 HCAOA is pleased to share a major development resulting from our sustained, aggressive federal advocacy. On July 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor issued Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) No. 2025-4, which directs its enforcement staff to stop applying the 2013 rule that prohibited home care agencies from using key Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) exemptions for companionship and live-in services. This shift in enforcement policy is a direct outcome of HCAOA’s continued engagement with senior officials at the Department and within the Trump Administration and a meaningful step toward restoring flexibility for agencies and caregivers alike.
Recently, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee released their budget reconciliation language to be included in the larger Senate reconciliation package. In addition to providing and extending various tax proposals, the language includes several measures to reduce federal spending towards states’ Medicaid programs.
 The majority of older Americans cannot afford home care after accounting for their daily living expenses, according to a new report by the Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies. Roughly 75% of American households ages 75 and older do not have enough income to pay for daily home health aide visits in addition to their basic living expenses, such as housing, transportation, food and basic healthcare.
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© 2026 Home Care Association of America. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Refund Policy
[email protected] | sitemap
© 2026 Home Care Association of America. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Refund Policy