The September 30 deadline to secure your hotel for the 2023 HCAOA National Home Care Conference is just THREE DAYS AWAY. Prices will increase on October 1, so if you are attending or are planning to attend, make your hotel reservation today to secure the discounted rate of $229 plus tax per night at the Hilton Chicago.

Are you attending the 2023 HCAOA National Home Care Conference in Chicago but haven’t booked your hotel room yet? Act quickly! The September 30 deadline for the special discounted hotel reservation rate of $229 plus tax per night at the Hilton Chicago is approaching fast. To secure this discounted rate, please visit the 2023 HCAOA Conference hotel reservation page or call (312) 922-4400. Be sure to mention your attendance at the HCAOA National Home Care Conference when making your reservation. After September 30, the hotel room rates will increase, so don't wait any longer to secure your accommodations.

Come experience David Rendall's Pink Goldfish: Defy Normal and Exploit Imperfection session, where he elaborates on an unconventional strategy to elevate and differentiate your business. If you want your business to stand out in a crowded marketplace, this Keynote Session is for you.

The 2023 HCAOA National Home Care Conference is at record-breaking registrations! With that in mind, do not wait to make your hotel reservations! The Hilton Chicago is a gorgeous, historic property with 1,544 guest rooms offering a full suite of amenities and outstanding dining options.

Overlooking Grant Park, Lake Michigan, and Museum Campus, attendees will be situated on Michigan Avenue, where incredible experiences are around every corner. Walk to Solider Field for game days or concerts, enjoy many festivals at Grant Park, or explore the Pilsen neighborhood– known for one of the best museums in the city, and booming bar and restaurant scenes.

​Last week, IDPH released proposed rulemaking updates for the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Code to include requirements for home health and home services agencies with more than one location. The proposed rules impact branch offices, drop-sites, parent agencies, service plans, and service contracts.

​This week, the premier conference for the home care industry, HCAOA’s National Home Care Conference, officially opens for registration, sponsorships and exhibits. Yesterday, HCAOA CEO Vicki Hoak sent a video message to HCAOA members with a special message: “You belong with us in Chicago!”

​Last week, more than 100 home care providers attended the Illinois Chapter Conference in Chicago and received updates on federal and state legislation, labor laws and state regulations for home services agencies.  

​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…