HCAOA member agency Pansy Homecare and CEO Vicki Hoak were featured in the Hartford Business Journal.

As many homecare service companies struggle to retain employees due to low wages and job stresses, West Hartford-based Pansy Homecare Service LLC is trying to buck that trend by paying its workers more and fostering an environment of inclusiveness. And, the nine-year-old business — operated by the mother and son team of Pansy and Jonah Francis — is growing.

​The Home Care Association of New York State, Healthcare Association of New York State and Iroquois Healthcare Association held an all-sector health workforce summit on May 26 – the first of its kind in many years – to leverage the collaborative participation of core partners across the continuum, including state and national leaders, healthcare providers and other organizations.

​HCAOA is looking for volunteers to serve on workgroups for the Home Care Workforce Action Alliance, which was formed in May by HCAOA and the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) to make recommendations to address the critical home care aide and nurse workforce shortage. Anyone interested in being part of this national industry effort should send their name, agency, and contact information to info@hcaoa.org no later than August 1. This work will entail zoom meetings from September-November, with final recommendations completed by December. These recommendations will be shared with members of Congress, federal officials, and other interested stakeholders.

​Beginning January 1, 2023, Washington employers with 15 or more employees will be required to publish, on every job posting, the wage scale or salary range and a "general description of all of the benefits and other compensation to be offered to the hired applicant." They must also provide this information for internal transfers upon request.

​In May, HCAOA and NAHC (National Association for Home Care and Hospice) announced the formation of the Home Care Workforce Action Alliance to make recommendations to address the critical home care aide and nurse workforce shortage. “We’re looking for a small group of HCAOA members along with NAHC members who are interested in developing concrete recommendations that will address the workforce shortage,” said HCAOA CEO Vicki Hoak. 

​Through a partnership between HCAOA and ADP, members are eligible to receive exclusive offers and preferred member pricing. More than just payroll, ADP offers a broad suite of services:

• Payroll Processing
• Tax and Compliance
• Human Resources
• Insurance Services
• Benefits
• Retirement Services

​Last week, the Biden Administration announced that more than $40 billion in American Rescue Plan funds have been committed to strengthening and expanding the nation’s workforce, including $9 billion for the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) workforce.

​The deadline to nominate a caregiver for the 2022 Caregiver of the Year Award has been extended to THIS FRIDAY, July 22 at midnight. HCAOA encourages EVERY ONE OF OUR 4,089 member agencies to nominate at least one caregiver so we can truly honor thousands of the best caregivers across the country who provide care and services at home. They deserve this honor for their compassion, commitment, and excellence!

​A new report released last week by PHI found that while 24 states and the District of Columbia supported direct care workers with hazard pay and/or paid sick leave policies during the first 18 months of COVID-19, 26 states did not.

​This report details findings from a recent study by PHI on hazard pay and paid sick leave policies enacted across all 50 states and DC from March 2020 to August 2021 (the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic). The purpose of the study was to document how states responded to the challenges faced by direct care workers and other essential workers during one of the most devastating health crises in recent history—and to generate lessons for the future.

On July 12, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission updated its COVID-19 FAQs, with specific emphasis on viral testing, antibody tests, and other issues relating to workplace safety. The agency’s update arrives as the nation continues to wrestle with substantial community spread of COVID-19, and new and more contagious variants of the virus are emerging here and around the globe.

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.