Did you know that HCAOA members receive preferred pricing on Littler’s Home Care Toolkit?  This is an online resource for employers that provides guidance, template employment documents, and resource materials to help home care companies understand and comply with the patchwork of federal, state and local employment laws.

​On May 4, 2022, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a Temporary Final Rule (TFR) automatically extending the work authorizations for certain renewal applicants listed on the USCIS website. Normally, the DHS regulations provide an automatic extension of 180 days from the expiry date stated on the Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The May 4, 2022, TFR increased the automatic extension from 180 days up to 540 days. The primary objective for the additional 360-day extension is to prevent gaps in work authorization due to the USCIS’ significant processing delays for work permit renewal applications.

​​Nominate a caregiver for the 2022 Caregiver of the Year Award to recognize all that our frontline workers do to keep people safe at home! The top caregiver will receive a $1,000 cash award and receive an all-expenses paid trip to the HCAOA conference in Orlando in September to be recognized in front of industry leaders – not to mention the appreciation they will have for you and your agency for nominating them for this prestigious national award!

​HCAOA joined nearly 20 other national associations in sending a letter to Congress in support of the FTC Franchise Rule, which is currently under review. This rule is the primary federal regulation governing franchise businesses, including home care franchises. The International Franchise Association (IFA) supports the rule because it encourages the information sharing necessary for prospective franchise owners to make informed decisions before entering into commercial relationships.

​Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine, alongside experts from the ILR School and Cornell Tech, have developed a multidisciplinary program aimed at elevating the value of home care workers – which includes home health aides, home attendants and nursing assistants – while improving both their working conditions and their patients’ outcomes. In three years, the team has produced more than 20 academic papers that aim to reshape the way policymakers view this critical workforce.

​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.

​Answering four simple questions is all it takes to nominate your top caregiver for the 2022 Caregiver of the Year Award. These four questions will add your caregiver to the distinguished list of nominees for this national award, garnering national and local recognition, and solidifying their status as one of the top caregivers in the country.

​On May 25, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee signed a bill into law to legalize recreational cannabis. As a result, Rhode Island has joined a small but growing minority of states that extend employment protections to employees who use marijuana during non-working hours. With certain exceptions, an employer’s ability to take adverse action as a result of an applicant’s or employee’s positive drug screen for cannabis is likely significantly limited absent evidence of current impairment at the time of the test.

On June 3, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division announced that it is reviewing regulations addressing the distinction between an employee and an independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). DOL plans to engage in new rulemaking on this issue and seeks public feedback on the impact of potential changes to these regulations on small businesses.

​In such an unprecedented time in the labor market, there’s so much information out there about the latest hiring and retention trends, it can be difficult to cut through all the noise. HCAOA Associate Member CareerPlug has copiled some of the most compelling hiring statistics that every employer should know in 2022 to shed light on what job seekers and employees are looking for and how to hire and retain the right people.

​In March, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed a bill (S.B. 61) setting minimum training requirements for direct care staff members that are employed by facilities or programs regulated by the cabinet that provide services to individuals who exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias in the populations they serve. Facilities or programs must ensure that all direct care staff have completed cabinet-approved culturally competent and person-centered training before providing care to Alzheimer’s clients. The Office of Dementia Services in the Department for Aging and Independent Living has been designated to review and approve all provider agencies' dementia training curriculums.

​On April 29, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed S.F. No. 2677 into law, authorizing bonus payments to Minnesotans who worked in frontline sectors during COVID-19. This so-called “Hero Pay” law aims to thank eligible frontline workers for their sacrifices and hard work during the pandemic, when their work put them at risk of contracting COVID-19.

​Throughout the pandemic, it has been challenging to attract and retain employees in all industries. Home care agencies and skilled nursing facilities have not been immune to these challenges. In this webinar, Avi Singer, Founder and CEO of showd.me, will chat with HCAOA CEO Vicki Hoak and Mayer Majer, Insurance/Benefits Specialist of Leading Edge Administrators, to discuss tips to increase retention in high-turnover industries.

​Nominations are now open for the HCAOA 2022 Caregiver of the Year Award. Recognize one of your top caregivers for their compassion and commitment to providing exemplary care to your clients and their families. HCAOA’s goal is to have at least half of our members nominate a caregiver for this prestigious award.

​The nomination process is streamlined so that it’s easy and fast to submit your best caregiver.