Consumer Protection Notice Requirements Would Burden Connecticut HCAs

​Legislation has been introduced on behalf of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) that would significantly burden home care agencies.
 
House Bill 6767 would cause many operational challenges for HCAs. The HCAOA Connecticut Chapter has been actively advocating on behalf of members against the bill by offering testimony to the General Law Committee, meeting with lawmakers. and planning a meeting with Department officials about concerns. 

The Chapter has also drafted amendments that would address the problems the bill would create for HCAs. Issues and proposed amendments are listed below.
 
The bill states:

• The caregiver's name provided to the client in writing prior to entering the client's home. This would be onerous and impractical. Clients typically call home care agencies to add visits on the same day or next day.

The Chapter proposes:

• An alternative verbal notice be acceptable in certain specified circumstances.

 
The bill states:

• Written notice must be provided sixty days prior to a change in rates.

The Chapter contends:

• The notice period is too long and would not work in practice. Instead, the Chapter recommends written notice provided with thirty days’ notice, which would allow families time to explore and find alternative services for a price increase.

 
The bill states:

• Written notice must be provided to the Connecticut DCP and to the client ten days prior to ceasing operations.

The Chapter contends:

• The short notice is not practical. If an agency needs to end services with a client, it’s often as a result of very challenging, unmanageable situations outside the control of HCAs, such as the condition of the home, safety, client behavior, family expectations or level of need that far exceeds home care services. The Chapter proposes that the requirement should not apply in several specified circumstances.

 
The bill also calls for background checks for new owners.
 
House Bill 6767 has been approved by the committee. The HCAOA Connecticut Chapter urges members to contact their legislators about their concerns with the bill. Find your legislators’ information by visiting the HCAOA Legislative Action Network here. Scroll down and under Find Officials on the right side of the page, enter your address and zip code. Click on the legislators that you want to contact, then type your message.

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