Connecticut Chapter Hosts Consumer Protection Officials for Education and Compliance Program

Pamela Brown, Director of Investigations for the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), and Staff Attorney Ryan Burns, discussed new criminal background check requirements for employees of HCAs and the recently adopted ban on non-solicitation provisions (‘no-hire’ clauses) in client service agreements last week at the HCAOA Connecticut Chapter meeting. The more than 70 attendees at the Sheraton Hartford South Hotel, in Rocky Hill, learned there is no official legal opinion on whether the non-solicitation ban applies retroactively, according to Brown and Burns.
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Connecticut home care providers should be aware that staff interns are actively perusing websites of national, franchise-owned home care agencies in Connecticut for compliance with local laws and regulations, the officials also noted. The goal of audits and investigations is to bring HCAs into compliance. 

​​Brown and Burns also advised home care providers to be clear and not mislead consumers in any memory care advertising to remain in compliance. (DCP advertising guidelines specify that HCAs are not allowed to advertise any type of memory care or Alzheimer’s/dementia care.)
 
Attendees also learned that the Department is exploring disclaimers, which the officials indicated they would share with the Chapter.  To download the presentation from Connecticut DCP, including information about the new criminal background checks, click the link below. 
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hca_criminal_background_new_11.22.22.pdf
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Prior to the presentation by DCP officials, the Chapter met and received a national update from HCAOA CEO Vicki Hoak and state update from HCAOA CT Chapter Chair Mark McGoldrick and lobbyist Matthew Hallisey. Click below to see the presentation slides. 

hcaoa-ctslide_presentation111522.pdf
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Hoak discussed the status in Congress of several bills supported by HCAOA, including H.R. 6823, Elizabeth Dole Home and Community Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act, and H.R. 5514, Choose Home Care Act.
 
Connecticut Chapter representatives discussed:

• HCAOA priorities for legislation including industry standards that improve delivery of in-home care to clients,
• the outcome of recent elections and their impact on policies affecting home care,
• what to expect in the 2023 legislative session,
• the homemaker companion task force, and
• participation by members in HCAOA’s National Campaign to Invite Lawmakers into Home Care Clients’ Homes.

 
At a separate meeting last week, the Legislature’s Homemaker Companion Task Force reviewed a summary of issues, concerns and suggestions for change raised in a recent public hearing. Members identified and discussed issues including:

• meeting client expectations for home care services,
• consumer confusion about oversight,
• adopting industry standards,
• training and supervision requirements,
• resolving complaints,
• education and
• advertising.

​The task force is scheduled to meet Friday, December 2 to continue drafting the report of findings and recommendations due in January.
 
Lawmakers plan to meet in special session after Thanksgiving to commit more funding to an energy assistance program, increase bonuses for some essential workers and extend breaks on bus fares and the gas tax, House Speaker Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) said last Friday. The gas tax relief, which has reduced transportation costs for HCAs and caregivers, will likely be phased out over several months.
 
Remember, the HCAOA Connecticut Chapter and CT Association for Healthcare at Home are co-sponsoring a free webinar called “CONNIE 101 for Medicaid Home Care Providers: How the State Will Oversee Quality Metrics and Benchmarks for Value-Based Payments,” on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. Please join us!

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