Connecticut Chapter Leadership Meets with Key Lawmakers

Jonah Francis, l. to r., Rep. Jane Garibay, Marlene Chickerella and Mario D’Aquila, following their meeting last week at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

HCAOA Connecticut Chapter leaders met recently with key lawmakers about Chapter legislative and public policy priorities in advance of the regular legislative session, which begins next month.

​Chapter chair Marlene Chickerella, managing partner of B&M Homemaking and Companion Services in West Haven; vice chairman Jonah Francis, president of Pansy Homecare Service in West Hartford; and DSS Medicaid committee chairman Mario D’Aquila, chief operating officer of Assisted Living Services in Cheshire, met with Representative Matt Ritter (D-Hartford), Speaker of the House, and Representative Jane Garibay (D-Windsor), co-chair of the Aging Committee.
 
In the meeting with Speaker Ritter and his staff, Chapter leaders and Jamie Arber of the Supported Living Group and DSS Medicaid committee, discussed the critical need for increased Medicaid reimbursement for HCBS. In the meeting with Rep. Garibay, Chapter leaders discussed recent home care policy, the transition of the industry from the Department of Consumer Protection to the Department of Public Health, and Medicaid reimbursement. Also, Chapter representatives offered to serve as a resource to the Aging Committee as it establishes policy related to home care.
 
Chapter leaders are planning additional meetings in the coming weeks with other state officials, including representatives of the Office of Policy and Management and Senator Martin Looney (D-New Haven), president of the state Senate.
 
The legislative session begins Jan. 8, 2025.