​Last week, the HCAOA Illinois Chapter held a webinar with more than 100 members to review the regulatory changes that have been adopted for home services agencies, effective May 31. An extra thank you to Adam Guestow, Esq. of Hinshaw and Culbertson, and Mike and Joan O'Brien, Independence-4-Seniors Care, for their work in analyzing the regulations. In case you missed it, here are a few resources for members:

Learn more:
 
June 21 – Members-Only Webinar
Learn about the changes and get a jump start on operationalizing them. Speakers include Adam Guestow, Esq, of Hinshaw and Culbertson, and Mike and Joan O'Brien, Independence 4 Seniors.
 
July 19 – In-Person Chapter Meeting
Get updates on the new regulations directly from Rani Harms MSN, RN, NPD-BC, IDPH Program Supervisor for Home Services/Home Nursing, Division of Health Care Facilities and Programs. 

​The HCAOA Illinois Chapter invites all home care agencies to attend an in-person meeting on Tuesday, July 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT at the Doubletree by Hilton Lisle Naperville Hotel. Lunch will be provided. 

Last week, the HCAOA Illinois Chapter’s advocacy efforts to expand the services that home services agencies are permitted to do paid off, when Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) approved most of the changes proposed by the Chapter. JCAR is the legislative committee in Illinois whose role is to ensure that the General Assembly is adequately informed of how laws are implemented through agency rulemaking and to facilitate public understanding of rules and regulations.
 
The Illinois Chapter took the lead on negotiations between stakeholders and the Illinois Department of Public Health to implement needed revisions to the existing regulations.  The discussions with IDPH focused on expanding the scope of non-medical services permitted to be completed by licensed home service agencies and their home service workers.   

The IL Chapter will focus on the Chicago home care workers contract ordinance during the virtual meeting Tuesday, May 17 from 9:30-11 a.m.
 
The mandate protects home care workers by ensuring their employers provide a safe, fair, and equitable workplace. The contracts state the wage and work schedule for the employee and must be signed by both parties.
 
The meeting is free for members. Register now.

The HCAOA Illinois Chapter Legislative Committee has posted a summary of bills are monitoring and supporting during the first session of 2022. Here are some highlights:
 

• SB2903 that is now Public Act 102-0696 - Appropriates $2,700,000,000 from the State Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency Fund to the Department of Employment Security for payment to the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund for partial repayment of Title XII advances, including prior year costs.
  • Question remains how to fund the remaining $1.8B still on hold? Could impact employers' unemployment rates

 

• SB3146 that passed in both houses - One day of rest-penalties amendment provides that an employee who works in excess of 71/2 continuous hours shall be entitled to an additional 20-minute meal period for every additional 41/2 continuous hours worked.

 

• An item from the 3/11/22 proposed, emergency and adopted rules that speaks to a rate adjustment for the Community Care Program: 
  • P. 3618. A Complete Description of the Subjects and Issues Involved: Part 240 rulemaking will be amended to reflect rate adjustments to maximum payment levels for CCP in-home service and adult day service providers.

 

• Any published studies or reports, along with the sources of underlying data that were used when composing this rulemaking? The underlying information for the proposed amendments was recently approved and provided by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS’ approval of the Elderly Waiver amendment allows implementation of the requested rate increases for CCP in-home service and adult day service providers.

 
View the full report or visit the Illinois Chapter website to view the Legislative Bill Tracker.

​HCAOA state chapters are focused on improving access to and the delivery of home care throughout the country. Whether it’s expanding the scope of services that home care aides in Illinois can provide, or advocating for auto accident victims in Michigan, or developing recommendations for Ohio’s new home care license law, or fighting against a bill that would prohibit non-solicitation clauses in Connecticut, HCAOA’s chapters have been doing great work on behalf of all members! Here are some highlights…

​After a long hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, the HCAOA Illinois Chapter held its first regular in-person chapter meeting this week in Naperville, with a record-breaking 100+ attendees. Featured speakers included the chapter’s lobbyist David Ormsby, The Nolan Group, and Rani Harms, Program Supervisor for Home Services and Home Health, Illinois Department of Public Health. 

​Register for the HCAOA Illinois Chapter meeting next Tuesday, March 15 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. CT at the Doubletree by Hilton Lisle Naperville Hotel. Featured presenter is Rani Harms, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, Home Services & Home Nursing Licensing Supervisor, IDPH, Division of Health Care Facilities & Programs. Chapter Lobbyist David Ormsby, The Nolan Group, will also provide an update on state legislative issues impacting home care. Lunch will be provided. Registration is $40 for HCAOA members and $80 for non-members.

HCAOA’s state chapters have hit the ground running in 2022! We’ve just added a new round of chapter meetings to our events calendar, so now is the time to jump in.

​The HCAOA Illinois Chapter continues to advocate on behalf of members by broadening the regulations for Home Service Agencies. Currently, the proposed regulations are being vetted and to continue advocacy efforts, the chapter is looking for overall statistics from members to establish the value of home services and home nursing agencies. 

​All home care agencies are invited to join the HCAOA Illinois Chapter for the first in-person meeting of 2022 on Tuesday, March 15 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. CT at the Doubletree by Hilton Lisle Naperville Hotel. Featured presenter is Rani Harms, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, Home Services & Home Nursing Licensing Supervisor, IDPH, Division of Health Care Facilities & Programs, who will provide regulatory updates for agencies and answer attendee questions. Chapter Lobbyist David Ormsby, The Nolan Group, will also provide an update on state legislative issues impacting home care.

All home care agencies are invited to join the HCAOA Illinois Chapter for the first in-person meeting of 2022 on Tuesday, March 15 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. CT at the Doubletree by Hilton Lisle Naperville Hotel. Featured presenter is Rani Harms, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, Home Services & Home Nursing Licensing Supervisor, IDPH, Division of Health Care Facilities & Programs, who will provide regulatory updates for agencies and answer attendee questions.

​HCAOA partnered with Attorney James Thomas of Jackson Lewis to offer guidance for members about the new Chicago ordinance requiring employers of domestic workers, including home care workers, to provide them with a written contact beginning January 1, 2022. Thomas developed a Sample Domestic Worker Agreement for HCAOA members to use as a template at no charge.