The Department of Social Services issued home health services rate increases, effective August 1, 2021, of 6% for home health aides, 31.7% for pediatric complex care skilled nursing service, and 3.5% for all other home health services except continuous skilled nursing. DSS has not yet issued rate increases for homemaker-companion services but the department and Office of Policy and Management are well aware of HCAOA Connecticut's concerns about minimum wage increases effective August 1.
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The Attorney General’s Office, in cooperation with the Coalition for Elder Justice in Connecticut, launched a new Elder Justice Hotline last week to provide a one-stop-shop to help older adults in Connecticut navigate state services and seek information, assistance, and justice. Additionally, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont recently signed Senate Bill 1201, making Connecticut the 19th state to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 years or older. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont recently signed Senate Bill 1201, making Connecticut the 19th state to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 years or older. The new law not only requires expungement of certain existing marijuana convictions but also creates employment protections for recreational marijuana users. While these protections are more limited than those recently recognized in neighboring states New York and New Jersey, Connecticut employers should review current policies and practices to ensure they are prepared for the changes by July 1, 2022, the effective date of the new employment provisions. read more It’s been a long quarantine, and HCAOA is anxious to meet with members again IN PERSON. Several State Chapters are planning in-person meetings in the coming weeks. The Chapters are eager to see members and prospective members face-to-face to discuss the important advocacy work they have been doing throughout the year, as well as other home care industry and membership updates. If you live in Florida, Arizona, Georgia, or Connecticut, register now to attend your chapter event. On Wednesday, June 9, the 2021 regular legislative session of the General Assembly adjourned, shortly after lawmakers adopted a two-year $46.3 billion state budget and annual capital program. Less than a week later, lawmakers reconvened for a special session to implement the budget and legalize the use of marijuana. HCAOA Connecticut urges members to contact their lawmakers today to urge them to support an increase in Medicaid funding for home care in the special session this week. Despite strong advocacy efforts by HCAOA Connecticut members, lawmakers approved a state budget last week that includes only a modest 1.2% increase in Medicaid funding for home care. Click here to send a message! The state Senate passed House Bill 6100, giving final legislative approval to legislation expanding background checks that home care agencies will be required to conduct on prospective employees. Chapter leadership worked closely with members of the General Law Committee and Department of Consumer Protection officials to ensure the bill met the concerns of HCAs. After a significant amount of testimony from agency owners in opposition and advocacy by the Chapter, DCP withdrew a ban on health care terms in agency business names and advertising. As the Governor and legislative leadership begin final negotiations on the state budget, it’s important that members of the General Assembly hear from home care providers who participate in the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program and home care Medicaid waiver programs in support of additional Medicaid funding and reimbursement. Last month, the Appropriations Committee approved funding in the amount of $10 million in each of the next two fiscal years to reflect Medicaid rate increases to home health and waiver services providers. Last week, the Appropriations Committee approved funding in the amount of $10 million in each of the next two fiscal years to reflect Medicaid rate increases to providers of home health and waiver services providers. After considering the federal share, according to the Office of Fiscal Analysis, providers will receive approximately $20 million in the aggregate each year. On Monday of this week, Governor Lamont issued his recommendations to the legislature for how $2.6 billion in federal funds received under the American Rescue Plan will be spent by the state over three years; the funding does not include additional money for Medicaid reimbursement to home care providers. Both the committee’s budget and the Governor’s plan require approval by the General Assembly. Meantime, HCAOA Connecticut thanks members who participated in last week’s annual Care at Home Days at the Capitol. The program, held virtually for the first time, was very successful with a number of members across the state participating. Members met with their state senators and representatives to discuss legislation and the impact of various policies on their business, caregivers and clients; the challenges facing their agencies; and to advocate for the home care industry. After removing a ban on health care terms in home care agency business names and advertising, the legislature’s General Law Committee approved House Bill 6100 yesterday. The bill requires, among other things, local and national criminal background checks of caregivers, including a search of a multistate criminal record locator by a consumer reporting agency or accredited background screening company. The Department of Consumer Protection agreed to remove the names and advertising provisions after HCAOA Connecticut and many individual HCA owners vigorously opposed them. The bill goes to the House of Representatives for further consideration. HCAOA Connecticut members can discuss this bill and other priorities affecting home care in meetings with their lawmakers at Home Care Days at the Capitol next month. The Department of Consumer Protection has agreed to withdraw from House Bill 6100 its proposed ban on home care agencies using any terms in advertising that describe services related to health care that require a license, such as memory support or Alzheimer’s and dementia care. HCAOA Connecticut and many individual HCAs vigorously opposed the ban, arguing in testimony and to lawmakers and department officials that agencies should be allowed to communicate accurate information to prospective clients and families that they offer various services, including non-medical memory support that ensures a safe and healthy environment in the elderly person’s home. The Department continues to assert that existing law provides authority to ban such advertising. The ban on use of such terms in business names of HCAs applying for a new registration has not been withdrawn. HCAOA Connecticut members can discuss this bill and other priorities affecting home care in appointments with their lawmakers at its Lobby Day next month. CONNECTICUT: Fingerprinting Caregivers Off the Table; Governor Rolls Back Pandemic Restrictions3/10/2021 Governor Ned Lamont announced that Connecticut, in order to quickly administer the COVID-19 vaccine to as many people as possible, will pivot to an age-based approach to expand eligibility for the vaccine. Other previously considered scenarios, he explained, proved overly complex and confusing, would potentially exacerbate inequities in vaccine distribution, and slow down the process of providing it to Connecticut residents. |
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