Connecticut Chapter Advocacy Leads to Successful Outcomes in Legislative Session

Caregiver training requirements for home care agencies will not become law this year.
 
The General Assembly concluded its 2025 regular legislative session on June 4. About 3,800 bills were filed this year; 800 were approved by committee and 286 bills, including a two-year $55.8 billion state budget, passed both chambers and have been sent to the Governor’s desk for his approval and signature. Gov. Lamont has, to date, signed 165 bills, signed and line-item vetoed two bills, and vetoed two bills of the 2025 regular session.

​Caregiver training was among the many bills and policies HCAOA Connecticut advocated for and responded to during the session.
 
HCAOA Connecticut raised a number of questions about two bills that would have made a number of changes to caregiver training, Senate Bill 1344 and Senate Bill 1468. Following several proposed amendments, numerous meetings and discussions with key lawmakers and other public officials, the bills were not adopted.
 
Both bills would have required HCAs to provide at least ten hours of training to their employees on certain topics (e.g., cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, and best practices in personal hygiene) from a list of trainings approved by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection. DCP also expressed concerns with employees’ scope of services and costs of enforcement for the Department.
 
The amount of any reimbursement for Medicaid HCBS, another priority for HCAOA Connecticut, remains unclear at this time but the Chapter’s advocacy is ongoing. HCAOA supports an increase of 13% in Medicaid reimbursement for each of the next two fiscal years and 10% annual increases in the following years, and rate increases tied to annual increases in minimum wage.
 
The Office of Policy and Management has indicated there were no revisions to baseline amounts in the state budget, House Bill 7287, nor any policy changes in Medicaid. The Governor’s and Appropriations Committee budgets provided increases for low-wage workers effective July 1 and specific to HCBS, but should there be delays, according to OPM, they would be retroactive to that date. The Department of Social Services plans to issue a provider bulletin with additional information capturing funding details intended in the state budget, which will be shared with providers. The challenge is Medicaid is appropriated by the legislature as part of the Department’s overall funding for human services programs and DSS sets specific amounts for industries and professions administering those programs.
 
Meanwhile, at the request of the Chapter lawmakers added a representative of HCAs to the Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia task force adopted as part of House Bill 6771. The task force is charged with examining the needs of people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, services available to them and their family caregivers, and health care providers’ ability to meet the needs of people living with the disease or condition; and developing a State Alzheimer’s Plan. The task force will report annually to the Governor and several legislative committees beginning in 2027. HCAOA Connecticut has recommended to the Governor vice chairman Jonah Francis of Pansy Homecare Service of West Hartford for appointment to the task force.
 
Additionally, HCAOA Connecticut monitored changes to the community ombudsman program. The state budget expands the scope of the program by extending its authority to cover community-based long-term services and supports, which includes health, personal care, and supportive services. It expands who is considered a home care provider by adding individuals who formally or informally offer direct HCBS long-term services and supports. Public Act 25-168 allows the ombudsman to identify, investigate, refer and help resolve complaints; raise public awareness; promote access; and refer clients for legal, housing and social services.
 
Attend the HCAOA Connecticut annual home care conference in September to learn about these and other new laws and policies affecting the industry.