HCAOA is excited to introduce Cai Yoke as the newest addition to the team, stepping into the Senior Manager of Government Relations role. Yoke brings a wealth of experience and expertise to HCAOA.

​In her role, she will focus on state advocacy issues and be an instrumental partner for HCAOA’s state chapters to advance issue campaigns that enhance our members’ ability to provide high-quality care to those in need. Before joining HCAOA, Yoke worked on the government relations and grassroots advocacy teams at BAYADA Home Health Care and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Last week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) appealed a federal court ruling that blocked its proposed ban on noncompete agreements for employers. This action comes after Judge Ada Brown of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas determined that the FTC exceeded its authority in implementing the ban. Her ruling expanded to apply to all employers.

The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) has released a report emphasizing the urgent need for an employment pipeline of direct support professionals (DSPs) to provide essential home care services for individuals with disabilities. Highlighting the significant demand for DSPs in the U.S., the report notes that recruitment, training, and support for these roles must undergo substantial changes to meet the growing needs of Americans with disabilities. With the number of individuals relying on home- and community-based services (HCBS) projected to rise sharply, the current average vacancy rate in HCBS organizations is more than 20%.

Representatives from the HCAOA Policy Committee (Cheryl Stanton, BrightStar Care & HCAOA Policy Chair; and Doug Robertson, Right at Home), HCAOA Staff (Jason Lee, HCAOA CEO, and Eric Reinarman, HCAOA VP of Government Relations), and HCAOA Lobbyist (Michael Strazzella, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC) met in Washinton, DC last week to discuss HCAOA’s policy strategy for 2025. The team discussed various key topics, including plans to schedule meetings with the transition teams of Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump. HCAOA is eager to collaborate with both candidates and learn more about their respective plans for home care going forward.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) just released the September jobs report, noting that the number of home care jobs has risen in recent months, and the field frequently leads the healthcare industry in total monthly job growth. In July, 21,600 new workers entered home healthcare, and in May, roughly 20,000 entered.

U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Bob Casey (D-Penn) have introduced three bills aimed at bolstering the Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who provide essential home care and assistance to seniors and individuals with disabilities. This initiative comes in response to the caregiver work shortage. The bills are designed to create new programs and adjust federal funding to enhance home and community-based services (HCBS), addressing the urgent need for support in this critical workforce.

The Pennsylvania Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) is re-opening the Calendar Year 2023 Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) rate study survey to allow additional responses from providers who were unable to participate earlier. This includes personal assistance agencies (PAS).

Governor Ned Lamont last month announced that beginning Jan. 1, 2025, Connecticut’s minimum wage will increase from the current rate of $15.69 per hour to $16.35 per hour.

The New Jersey Legislature has formed a Home Care Caucus to collaborate with a bipartisan representation of members from both chambers on issues related to home health care services. HCAOA encourages all members in the state to participate in the next virtual meeting of the Caucus on Tuesday, September 24 at 11:00 a.m. Click here to register. Speakers at the meeting will include caucus Legislative Co-Chairs Senator Anthony M. Bucco (R-25), Senator Gordon Johnson (D-37), Assemblywoman Nancy F. Muñoz (R-21), and Assemblywoman Carol A. Murphy (D-7).

It’s not too late to secure your spot at the HCAOA’s Home Care Schedulers Virtual Symposium: Strategies to Prepare for Unexpected Challenges & Tools to Help You Succeed TODAY from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET! All attendees receive a valuable resource to level up your agency’s scheduling.

HCAOA’s Home Care Schedulers Virtual Symposium: Strategies to Prepare for Unexpected Challenges & Tools to Help You Succeed is September 18 from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET. If you’ve not yet registered the schedulers from your agency, don’t miss out on this unique educational offering designed specifically for the schedulers who keep our home care agencies running smoothly. All attendees will hear from leaders in the industry and walk away with helpful tools and resources they can implement immediately at your agency.

HCAOA CEO Jason Lee recently spoke about the state of the home care industry with Nicky Reynolds, Marketing Communications Manager of Rosemark. Lee discussed the challenges facing the home care industry and the association’s legislative efforts. He highlighted critical issues such as workforce recruitment and retention, with many agencies struggling to find and keep qualified staff. Lee also discussed the implications of the Medicaid Access Rule, which mandates that 80% of funding be directed toward wages, a regulation that may not fit all states uniformly and presents various implementation challenges. The simultaneous rollout of multiple rules, including Medicaid, Overtime, and Non-compete Rules, has added to the complexity of navigating the industry’s regulatory landscape.

Last week’s nationwide injunction by a federal court in Texas barring the Federal Trade Commission from implementing its ban on noncompete agreements could help home care agency owners in Connecticut.

Proper caregiver training is crucial for ensuring high-quality care and addressing high staff turnover and burnout in the home care industry. According to the 2024 Activated Insights Benchmarking Report, many home-based care and home health staff feel unprepared for new clients, contributing to a nearly 80% annual turnover rate. Training not only enhances caregivers' skills and job satisfaction but also supports their professional development, which is vital for maintaining a motivated workforce and delivering better patient care.