Employers in Connecticut that do not have an approved retirement plan for their employees can be directly penalized with fines ranging from $500 to $1,500, depending on the size of their company, for not participating in the MyCTSavings retirement program under a new state law that took effect July 1.

​Earlier this year, the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM) issued a plan to the legislature to transfer responsibility for registration and oversight of home care agencies from the Department of Consumer Protection to the Department of Public Health (DPH). OPM contracted with Corcoran Consulting Group, LLC, to conduct research and to assist with the development of the Plan. The HCAOA Connecticut Chapter invites all members to an exclusive webinar on Wednesday, May 14 featuring Guy Tommasi and Holly Haringa of Corcoran Consulting Group, who will provide unique insight into the report's development from the consultant’s perspective and discuss their role, experience, work and recommendations, as well as the status of the report and plan, its fiscal impact and the next steps.

The HCAOA Connecticut Chapter is holding a webinar on Wednesday, May 14 to discuss the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management report plan to transfer registration and oversight of home care agencies from the Department of Consumer Protection to the Department of Public Health. 

Caregiver Nana Darko Amoateng was recently awarded a $5,000 bonus and named Annual Platinum Caregiver of the Year by HCAOA Connecticut Chapter member Assisted Living Services, Inc. of Cheshire. “We are thrilled to recognize Nana’s outstanding senior support and unwavering dedication to his client,” said Mario D’Aquila, chief operating officer of Assisted Living Services. “Nana was chosen for the annual accolade because he truly exemplifies the spirit of going beyond the call of duty in his position and becoming an extended member of his client’s family.”

The HCAOA Connecticut Chapter gathered at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford last week to advocate for the home care industry.in conjunction with the CT Association for Healthcare at Home to co-sponsor Care at Home Day at the Capitol.

Providers in Connecticut are invited to participate in the 2025 Care at Home Day on Wednesday, March 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., in Hartford. HCAOA is co-hosting this event with the Connecticut Association for Healthcare at Home.

The Connecticut legislature's Aging Committee introduced a bill that would make significant changes to training requirements for home care agency (HCA) employees, which could be costly to implement.

​Connecticut Governor Lamont introduced a two-year budget proposal that would fund an additional special investigator in the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) and add funding for home care waiver services in the Department of Social Services (DSS).

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) reported last month to the legislature’s General Law Committee that its investigations division conducted 68 audits of homemaker-companion agencies (HCAs) in 2024. Department officials continue to find violations related to contracts and service agreements, advertising claims related to healthcare or other services requiring a credential, failure to indicate they are solely providing nonmedical care to clients, and failure to perform proper background checks.

The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) reported that, due to staffing issues and the complexity of the technical requirements, it plans to delay until April 1, full implementation of the home care provider registry and data processing system.

Last week, the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM) issued to the legislature the Plan to transfer responsibility for registration and oversight of home care agencies from the Department of Consumer Protection to the Department of Public Health (DPH).

The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) issued the final report of a two-part study of Medicaid reimbursement rates. The report recommends that DSS examine the current process for assessing home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver members and consider adoption of standardized and validated tools that could provide a comprehensive assessment of functional needs, natural supports, and level of acuity.

Connecticut is set to expand its paid sick leave law, affecting private-sector employees beginning January 1, 2025. Previously limited to employers with 50 or more employees and service workers, the new law will extend paid sick leave to all employees at companies with 25 or more employees, with further expansion in 2026 and 2027. Key changes include the elimination of the service worker criteria, no requirement for employees to provide documentation or advance notice for leave, and expanded use of sick time to care for family members. Additionally, the law increases accrual from one hour of sick leave for every 40 hours worked to one hour for every 30 hours worked, with a carryover of 40 hours or the option for employers to frontload sick leave at the start of each year. Governor Ned Lamont signed the bill in May, and the implementation will occur in phases over the next few years.

HCAOA Connecticut Chapter leaders met recently with key lawmakers about Chapter legislative and public policy priorities in advance of the regular legislative session, which begins next month.

Connecticut’s paid sick leave law and requirements for businesses and employers, including home care agencies will expand in several ways beginning Jan. 1, 2025.