Last week, more than 40 HCAOA members and staff spent the day at the state Capitol in Sacramento asking lawmakers and members of the Newsom Administration to support a bill to protect seniors and families hiring in-home support. The main issue of discussion for the day was AB 2185, which would prohibit Domestic Referral Agencies (DRAs) from compensating home care workers and independent contractors, which has become more and more of an issue in California, especially in recent years as the demand for services grows. Even if you were not able to attend the Advocacy Day, you can still do your part by sending a letter of support to your lawmakers.

All members in California  are invited to join HCAOA and your colleagues from across the state for an in-person opportunity to speak with legislators and advocate for in-home care services at the HCAOA California Chapter Advocacy Day on Tuesday, March 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Last week, the HCAOA California Chapter hosted its first meeting of 2024, and representatives from the Department of Social Services (DSS) were on hand to discuss upcoming updates. Pallavi Shimoda, Section Chief, Care Provider Management Branch, Home Care Services Bureau, discussed background check best practices, addressing specific questions and issues encountered during the process. Sonya Wilson, Acting Bureau Chief of Home Care Services Bureau, highlighted hiring an enforcement manager for the southern region of California and encouraged businesses to file complaints regarding non-compliance.

McKnights Home Care recently interviewed Greg V. Sanchez Jr., Ph.D., Chair of the HCAOA California Chapter and Owner and Operations Director of Home Instead - Pasadena & Monrovia. Sanchez speaks with McKnights reporter Liza Berger about how his nontraditional background as a chemist in the pharmaceutical industry for 15 years has helped him in his role in the home care industry and shares insights into his unique approach to running a nonmedical home care business.

All HCAOA members in California are encouraged to register for one of the Chapter Meetings scheduled for November 29 in Foster City or November 30 in Chino Hills. HCAOA has confirmed that top officials from the Department of Social Services Home Care Services Bureau will attend the meetings to provide updates on the ongoing Guardian issue, inspections, and investigations. Representatives from the Departments of Aging and Human Services will also attend the meeting, as well as state legislators. Don’t miss this opportunity to get updates directly from the source while networking with other providers.

During the last week of the legislative session in California, both houses of the legislature approved SB 525 (Durazo), a bill that would raise the hourly minimum wage for workers at health care facilities, as defined, to $23 next year, $24 in 2025, and $25 in 2026.

Under the bill, the phased-in minimum wage hike would cover all employees of covered health care facilities, including cleaning and maintenance staff, food service workers, gift shop workers, medical coders, and nursing assistants – although not all would see an immediate raise.

​HCAOA member Legally Nanny, a leading law firm representing home care agencies, nanny agencies and family employers, is celebrating 20 years in business this year. Attorney and former HCAOA Board Member Bob King started the firm as a part-time law practice helping California families hire nannies. Shortly thereafter, people started contacting him seeking help with home care issues, and now the firm represents thousands of home care agencies throughout the U.S. Bob has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal and CNN, interviewed on Entertainment Tonight, and speaks and writes about home care legal issues. We hope you can join him and say hello at his upcoming speech at HCAOA's conference next month. Congratulations Legally Nanny!

The California State Legislature passed a bill (SB 616) that, if signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, would require employers in California to provide workers with five days of sick leave per year, up from the current three days mandated by law. The California Association of Health Facilities (CAHF) opposes the legislation, expressing concerns about the increased costs for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and the lack of accompanying funding to cover these expenses. CAHF emphasizes that SNFs largely rely on government payers and fears potential challenges in hiring staff to meet mandatory staffing standards due to ongoing workforce issues. The bill is supported by the California Labor Federation and SEIU California, with proponents arguing that it enables workers to prioritize their health without financial strain, while opponents contend that many small businesses, still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, may struggle to afford the additional sick days.

The California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Committee has released two fact sheets on dementia and mental health resources, available on the Committee's website. The "Provider Guidance" fact sheet provides information on accessing and providing services for individuals with co-occurring Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia and mental health concerns through Medi-Cal, Medicare, and private insurance. The "Consumer Guidance" fact sheet addresses behavioral changes associated with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia and offers guidance on seeking assistance for issues stemming from these behavioral changes. Licensees are encouraged to share these fact sheets with facility staff, individuals in their care, and their representatives.

​All members in California are invited to a virtual meeting with the HCAOA California Chapter on Tuesday, July 18 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. PST. This meeting is free for HCAOA members, and registration is required.

​The Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division has issued PIN 23-13-ASC, which supersedes PIN 23-07-ASC, dated April 6, 2023, and provides information on the end of the vaccination and booster requirement for all workers in Adult and Senior Care (ASC) facilities and the end of the masking requirement in ASC facilities.

Senator Ocha-Bough presented Senate Bill 730, which clarifies existing law relating to the duties of a home care aide, before legislators.

​HCAOA thanks Senator Ocha-Bough for her commitment to home care providers, caregivers, and families.
 

​The Department of Finance has notified California Gov. Gavin Newsom poor economic conditions have necessitated expedited increases to the minimum wage. Changes in the consumer price index (CPI) from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 require the state to bring forward by one calendar year, from 2024 to 2023, the date when the state must annually adjust the minimum wage rate.

​The California Department of Aging (CDA) is designing a statewide training and incentive program called California GROWs (Growing a Resilient and Outstanding Workforce). California GROWs will incentivize, support, and fund career pathways for the direct care home and community-based services (HCBS) workforce. The program seeks to improve the skills, job satisfaction, and retention of the direct care workforce while providing opportunities for advancement.