The HCAOA Advocacy Team is in Washington D.C. this week meeting with members of Congress to discuss potential changes to tax policy to support the home care industry and the people it serves. Congress has indicated a willingness to extend tax cuts passed during President Trump's first term and implement new tax policies in 2025, so now is a critical time to discuss tax policy solutions related to home care. These efforts align with one of HCAOA’s key policy priorities for 2025, aiming to enhance access to quality care and address the financial challenges faced by families and people served by home care providers.

HCAOA invites ALL members to participate in National Home Care Advocacy Day on Wednesday, April 9, in Washington, DC.

​The agenda for the 2025 HCAOA California Chapter Conference and Advocacy Day has been finalized, and it's packed with valuable sessions, including an in-depth discussion with the DSS HCSB Bureau Chief Jude la Concepcion, and a deep dive into all things legal with Bob King, Esq., Legally Nanny!

Attention HCAOA members in Washington! You’re invited to the HCAOA Washington Chapter In-Home Services Day on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. PT at the IRV Newhouse Building in Olympia (416 Sid Snyder Ave SW, Olympia, WA 98504).

Please plan to join the HCAOA Washington Chapter and industry partners at the State Capitol on February 11, 2025 for In-Home Services Advocacy Day! This day will be a great opportunity to meet fellow home care advocates and educate lawmakers on the importance of the work you do every day to keep vulnerable Washington residents safely cared for at home. Orientation will begin at 7:15 a.m. A registration link and more details about the day will be provided after the new year! Also, we will be reaching out to members in January with resources to contact your lawmakers, so please stay tuned and plan to engage with your elected officials.

HCAOA is proud to celebrate a historic achievement for our nation’s veterans: the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act has passed Congress and is on its way to President Biden’s desk, who is expected to sign it into law! This landmark legislation will significantly enhance home-based care for veterans, including increasing the Veterans Administration's funding for in-home care to match 100% of the cost of nursing home care for veterans. HCAOA’s advocacy played a crucial role in making this a reality, with over 4,000 messages sent to Capitol Hill through its legislative action network. Over the past two years, advocacy efforts included numerous meetings with Veterans Affairs leadership, Congressional Policy Committee staff, in addition to meetings with key legislators during HCAOA's Home Care Advocacy Days.

It’s not too late to register for today’s member-only webinar at 3:00 p.m. ET for a recap of the 2024 elections and a non-partisan discussion about opportunities and impacts for home care. HCAOA will also share insights into 2025 legislative and regulatory priorities.

The 2019 auto no-fault reforms reduced reimbursement rates for in-home care by at least 45%, making it difficult for auto accident victims to access essential home care. Senate Bills 530, 531, and 535 have been introduced to address this issue and have already passed in the Senate. They are pending in the Michigan House, where no action has been taken yet. Your help is needed to move these bills forward—please CLICK HERE to fill out a Voter Voice action alert and ask your member of the Michigan House of Representatives to support the bills. The message is prewritten, so all you need to do is add your name and address.

Attention HCAOA Members! Join HCAOA’s advocacy and lobbying team on December 11 at 3:00 p.m. ET for an in-depth recap of the 2024 elections and a non-partisan discussion on what lies ahead for the home care industry. Get the latest insights on how the election results will impact home care and learn about HCAOA’s key legislative and regulatory priorities for 2025. Plus, discover how YOU can play a vital role in shaping the future of home care through advocacy efforts.

HCAOA is excited to introduce Cai Yoke as the newest addition to the team, stepping into the Senior Manager of Government Relations role. Yoke brings a wealth of experience and expertise to HCAOA.

​In her role, she will focus on state advocacy issues and be an instrumental partner for HCAOA’s state chapters to advance issue campaigns that enhance our members’ ability to provide high-quality care to those in need. Before joining HCAOA, Yoke worked on the government relations and grassroots advocacy teams at BAYADA Home Health Care and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Don't forget to register for the HCAOA National Legislative Call tomorrow, September 12, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. ET. 

HCAOA CEO Jason Lee recently spoke about the state of the home care industry with Nicky Reynolds, Marketing Communications Manager of Rosemark. Lee discussed the challenges facing the home care industry and the association’s legislative efforts. He highlighted critical issues such as workforce recruitment and retention, with many agencies struggling to find and keep qualified staff. Lee also discussed the implications of the Medicaid Access Rule, which mandates that 80% of funding be directed toward wages, a regulation that may not fit all states uniformly and presents various implementation challenges. The simultaneous rollout of multiple rules, including Medicaid, Overtime, and Non-compete Rules, has added to the complexity of navigating the industry’s regulatory landscape.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Ada E. Brown set aside the FTC’s sweeping ban on non-compete agreements, concluding that the rule was “arbitrary and capricious” and that the FTC lacked the statutory authority to issue the rule in the first place. (read Judge Brown’s decision here).

​Thanks to aggressive advocacy by the HCAOA West Virginia Chapter, the state’s HCBS reimbursement rate has been raised from $18.92 to $25.44, a 34.5% increase! This increase makes West Virginia’s rates more competitive with surrounding state rates, such as Kentucky (soon to be $29), Ohio ($29), Maryland ($31), Pennsylvania ($23 regional average), and Virginia ($23 regional average).