Caregiver shortages, client affordability, and rising costs remain top pain points for home care agencies, according to a new industry report. That’s one key finding in The Future of Home Care, based on a survey of 300 industry leaders conducted by Leading Home Care and sponsored by AxisCare.
​
Overall, the survey data indicate that industry leaders are focusing on growing in existing markets more than expanding to new areas in the coming year. Other key findings:

HCAOA is asking ALL members for help to permanently overturn the restrictive companionship exemption rules put in place in 2013. Thanks to your persistent advocacy and the strength of our members speaking together, HCAOA is making tremendous progress in getting the caregiver exemption restored, but we need YOUR voice to get this goal across the finish line!

HCAOA is pleased to share a major development resulting from our sustained, aggressive federal advocacy. On July 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor issued Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) No. 2025-4, which directs its enforcement staff to stop applying the 2013 rule that prohibited home care agencies from using key Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) exemptions for companionship and live-in services. This shift in enforcement policy is a direct outcome of HCAOA’s continued engagement with senior officials at the Department and within the Trump Administration and a meaningful step toward restoring flexibility for agencies and caregivers alike.

Prometric now offers an online option to take the Home Care Aide knowledge exams through Proproctor.

Medicaid home care faces ongoing workforce challenges, impacting over 4.5 million users of home- and community-based services (HCBS). Many states are addressing this by increasing payment rates, according to a recent issue brief released by KFF. The survey was sent to each state official overseeing home care benefits (including home health, personal care, and waiver services for specific populations, such as people with physical disabilities). All states except Florida, Indiana, and Utah responded.

Last week, HCAOA CEO Jason Lee, Legislative Director Cheryl Stanton, Board Member Veronica Charles, and HCAOA VP of Government Relations Eric Reinarman spent two full days on Capitol Hill meeting with members of Congress to discuss Tax policy to improve access to home care, as well as to immigration and HCAOA’s proposed home care visa and streamlining the EB-3 Visa process to help close the workforce shortage gap.

The Michigan House of Representatives recently passed the Workforce Opportunity Wage Act (HB4001) and the Earned Sick Time Act (HB4002) to address challenges with the state’s minimum wage and paid sick time laws due to take effect on February 21. The Senate Regulatory Reform Committee adopted its version of a paid sick leave bill, Senate Bill 15, last week, and the bill is set to be debated in a Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee today, February 12.

​Connecticut Governor Lamont introduced a two-year budget proposal that would fund an additional special investigator in the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) and add funding for home care waiver services in the Department of Social Services (DSS).

HCAOA continues to monitor the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities and any potential impact they may have on the home care industry.

​Jason Lee, HCAOA CEO, joined Jeff Wiberg, Founder of Family Resource Home Care, Clint Nobles, Founder & CEO of Home Care Ops, and Todd Austin, President & COO of Activated Insights, for the Home Care Ops CEO panel last week where they discussed how to set Resolutions That Stick. With Wiberg facilitating the dynamic discussion, Lee, Nobles, and Austin shared insights on setting annual plans and goals, developing metrics and assessing opportunities, and incentivizing strong performance. When Lee spoke about crisis management, he referenced his favorite hobby that he enjoys when the weather permits - riding his motorcycle! In the picture above, he is enjoying his hobby near Robbinsville, NC, on a road referred to as the Tail of the Dragon, which is famous for its 318 curves in 11 miles. Fortunately, his day job isn’t as dangerous!

A minimum wage increase to $16/hour in Nevada, which took effect in January 2024, has helped reduce turnover among home care workers, with the state’s home care workforce growing by 6.5% and 96% of workers being retained between December 2023 and April 2024. Additionally, Nevada raised its Medicaid reimbursement rate from $17.56 to $25 per hour to better support home care providers as the state’s aging population continues to grow.

Connecticut is set to expand its paid sick leave law, affecting private-sector employees beginning January 1, 2025. Previously limited to employers with 50 or more employees and service workers, the new law will extend paid sick leave to all employees at companies with 25 or more employees, with further expansion in 2026 and 2027. Key changes include the elimination of the service worker criteria, no requirement for employees to provide documentation or advance notice for leave, and expanded use of sick time to care for family members. Additionally, the law increases accrual from one hour of sick leave for every 40 hours worked to one hour for every 30 hours worked, with a carryover of 40 hours or the option for employers to frontload sick leave at the start of each year. Governor Ned Lamont signed the bill in May, and the implementation will occur in phases over the next few years.

It’s not too late to register for tomorrow's LIVE webinar Blueprint to Maximize Your Caregiver Recruitment Process at 1:00 p.m. ET. Hear from industry leaders about the strategies behind successful caregiver recruiting — and how you can apply them at your agency immediately.

Do you have children or know a college student interested in aging policy? Then you may be interested to know the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is seeking three interns for an eight-week, in-person summer policy internship program in Washington, DC, focused on aging-related policy development. The internship includes a $6,000 stipend and flexible start dates. One internship is reserved for a candidate enrolled in a Minority Serving Institution. Internship duties may include attending congressional hearings, researching issues that impact older adults, meetings with federal regulatory agencies, monitoring legislation and regulations, and contributing to GSA’s Public Policy & Aging Report, among other duties.

The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed phasing out the ability for employers to pay subminimum wages to workers with disabilities under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The rule would halt the issuance of new certificates allowing subminimum wage and gradually phase out existing certificates over three years. This change follows a year-long review and is expected to improve the economic well-being and inclusion of workers with disabilities.