Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Reports to Legislature About HCAs

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) reported last month to the legislature’s General Law Committee that its investigations division conducted 68 audits of homemaker-companion agencies (HCAs) in 2024. Department officials continue to find violations related to contracts and service agreements, advertising claims related to healthcare or other services requiring a credential, failure to indicate they are solely providing nonmedical care to clients, and failure to perform proper background checks.

Home care agencies are required to conduct a comprehensive background check of prospective employees. Instead of reviewing only public Connecticut criminal records, Public Act 21-37, effective Jan. 1, 2022, requires agencies to conduct a local and national criminal background check based on their name and date of birth. HCAs are required to: search a multi-state and multi-jurisdiction criminal record locator or similar commercial nationwide database with validation; search the Department of Justice’s National Sex Offender Public Website (some agencies are only searching the Judicial Branch website, according to DCP officials); and use a third-party consumer reporting agency or background screening company accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association and in compliance with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.
 
Additionally, HCAs must notify clients about their background check policy in writing and include a citation to state law.
 
For additional information, see Employee Hiring Policies and other requirements under Homemaker Companion Agency (HCA) Registration at the Department’s website. Additionally, DCP has published to audited agencies HCA Required Documentation Review, statutory requirements (updated through 2022) for client and employee files, service agreements, advertising, training, and websites. Agencies may want to perform self-audits and should always review the most recent statutory changes and the Department’s website to ensure compliance.
 
To address HCA compliance issues, the Connecticut Association for Healthcare at Home has invited HCAOA Connecticut members to attend their in-person event Brews & News: Mastering Compliance for Connecticut Homemaker-Companion Agencies on Thursday, February 13, from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. at Kinsman Brewing Company in Milldale, CT. This special invitation allows HCAOA members to register at the CTAHCH discounted member rate!
 
Use promo code newsandbrews to get $100 off each registration.
 
Register HERE.