HCAOA encourages you to listen to this very important Littler podcast on disability inclusion. People with disabilities make up 16% of the world population and 27% of the US adult population. During this podcast, the speakers will go beyond ADA compliance and discuss how organizations can change their workplace culture to truly be inclusive of people who live with disabilities. Please click HERE to listen.

On Monday, the Michigan Supreme Court, in an opinion authored by Justice Elizabeth M. Welch and joined by Chief Justice Clement and Justices Berstein, Cavanagh, and Bolden, issued its decision in Andary v. USAA Casualty Insurance Company, a case that has been working its way through the state court system since 2019.

Washington became the first state to start deducting money from workers' paychecks to fund long-term care benefits. Click here to listen to the article.

The state of Florida recently enacted legislation that will have a significant impact on employers across the state. Senate Bill 1718 (SB1718), which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law on May 10, requires private employers with 25 or more employees to use E-Verify for all new hires, effective July 1, 2023.

​All members in Virginia are invited to a virtual meeting with the HCAOA Virginia Chapter on Thursday, July 20 from 9:00am - 10:00am.  This meeting is free for HCAOA members, and registration is required.

Home care agencies in New York should be aware of two items that could impact home care agencies. Both topics will be discussed during the HCAOA New York Chapter Virtual Update today at 10:00 a.m. First, non-compete agreements may soon be unlawful in the state.

​On June 2, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed into law Senate Bill 23-058, the Job Application Fairness Act (JAFA), prohibiting employers from inquiring about a job applicant’s age during the hiring process. JAFA’s enactment adds to the requirements and proscriptions Colorado has implemented in the hiring process, including a “ban-the-box” restriction on inquiring about criminal histories and requiring the inclusion of salary and benefits information in job postings.

​Recently, the Federal Trade Commission issued a ​Request for Information (RFI) soliciting public comments on various issues pertaining to the franchisor-franchisee relationship. Through this RFI, the FTC is interested in learning more about how franchisors exert control over franchisees and their employees. HCAOA, the International Franchise Association, and a coalition of franchisors within the home care space are working together on a comment, which is due June 8. HCAOA will continue to update members on this issue. 

​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.  

If you have not registered for the Washington Chapter Conference on Wednesday, May 17, here are 3 reasons to sign up now.

Not only are there issues affecting home care organizations in New York, there are also several issues at the national level that could impact home care. These issues and many more will be presented during the first-ever New York Chapter Conference, on Tuesday, June 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at The Century House, in Latham, NY.

​Beginning in July, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will proactively work with all Healthy Connections Medicaid-enrolled providers who are categorized as high-risk to ensure they are in compliance with federal regulations. CMS requires providers classified as “high risk” to submit fingerprint-based criminal background checks.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has been reviewing the regulations that implement the Fair Labor Standard Act’s minimum wage and overtime exemptions for bona fide executive, administrative, and professional employees. DOL announced it will hold additional virtual listening sessions in May and June for both worker and employer stakeholders. These sessions are organized by region.

Dates and times for each listening session are listed online. To participate, register here. These are public events.
 
If you have questions, send an email to OTSessionInquiries@dol.gov.
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In this event notice, the agency seeks stakeholder input on issues such as:

• The appropriate salary level above which the exemptions for bona fide executive, administrative, or professional employees may apply.
• The costs and benefits of increasing the salary level to employers and employees, including increasing wages and reducing litigation costs.​
  
• The best methodology for updating the salary level, and the appropriate frequency of updates.
  
  

Next Wednesday, April 20, the HCAOA Connecticut Chapter will meet in-person to discuss issues that impact agencies in YOUR state.
 
You need to attend the in-person meeting so hear about:

• A bill being considered would prohibit home care agencies in Connecticut from including non-solicitation clauses in their contracts with caregivers - this means there would be no penalty if a client directly hires your agency’s home care aide
• OSHA reopened the ETS protecting healthcare workers from COVID exposure - what does this mean for home care?
• FDA recommended a second COVID booster for people 50+ - what does this mean for employers or another potential mandate?

 
The agenda includes updates from:

• Sami Asaad, FordHarrison, will discuss labor and employment laws affecting home care in Connecticut and will share what HCA owners need to know about new and relevant laws such as paid family and medical leave, non-compete agreements, wage, and hour compliance, including new wage range notification, and recreational marijuana.
• Eric Reinarman, Esq., HCAOA VP, Government Relations, will discuss HCAOA's policy priorities at the national level, and will share updates on advocacy efforts in other states, as well as work HCAOA has been doing on behalf of Connecticut. 
• Matthew Hallisey, Chapter Lobbyist, will provide an update on the 2022 legislative session of the Connecticut General Assembly and the status of public policy affecting HCAs.
• Marlene Chickerella, DSS Medicaid Committee Chair, will update attendees on the work of the committee and its efforts to seek increased reimbursement for home care services. 

 
Register now to attend on Wednesday, April 20 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Sheraton Hartford South Hotel. The cost is $40 for members and $80 for non-members.