VA Dept. of Health Officials Provide Updates and Guidance for Home Care Agencies at Virginia Chapter Conference

Ruthanne Risser, Deputy Director Licensure and Compliance with the VA Department of Health poses with Mary Beth Crossan of Independent You Senior Services, Vice Chair Virginia Chapter, at the 2023 Virginia Chapter Conference.

Two bills affecting home care audits and licensure are under expedited review by the HHS Secretary, Virginia Department of Health officials shared with home care providers and Virginia Chapter Conference attendees on April 5.
 
Monitoring the regulatory review process is very important for home care providers, Ruthanne Risser, Deputy Director of Licensure and Certification, and Robyn Wandrick, Supervisor of Home Care for VDH, emphasized. Regulations will be changing with the passage of SB 580, which eliminated the tri-annual audit, and HB 93, which changed the license renewal requirement from each year to every three years.

​To stay informed of the status of the proposed regulations affecting home care, like those above, members are encouraged to enroll at townhall.virginia.gov.

Dave Bodman, Chair, Virginia Chapter, works diligently for the good of the Chapter and its members.

​Home care organizations (HCOs) submitting initial applications for HCO licensure should utilize the VDH portal, the officials shared, but those renewing their license should not use the portal at this time. The state is currently working with the current database of HCOs to make certain information is correct before transferring it over to the new portal.
 
Once this work is complete in late May 2023, a notification will be posted on the website directing license renewals to use the portal. The portal will be very helpful to renewing providers, Ruthanne shared, because forms will be pre-populated to make the process easier. The portal will also accept licensure fees online.
 
Planning to move your business, change your business name or management? VDH requests that home care organizations contact them 30 days prior to the change and note the differences in the Changes section of the application.
 
Inspections for new HCO inspections should move faster thanks to the hiring of three new inspectors, the VDH officials shared. Agencies should expect on-site inspections to happen withing 4-6 weeks after all paperwork is submitted, a drastic improvement from the earlier timeframe of 6 months.
 
Also at the event, HCAOA CEO Vicki Hoak reviewed national priorities and the new Home Care Workforce Crisis Report. The Chapter also facilitated a roundtable discussion to identify critical issues facing home care providers in Virginia.
 
The Virginia Chapter announced the new slate of 2023 officers, which includes:
Dave Bodman, Companion Extraordinaire Home Care, Chairman
Mary Beth Crosson, Independent You Senior Services, Vice Chair
Mitch Opalski, SYNERGY, Legislative Chair
Board Members:
Llena Sta.Ana, Care with Love
Dean Longo, Visiting Angels
April Watts, Visiting Angels
 
HCAOA thanks the many members who came to the Virginia Conference and the members who have stepped into leadership roles for the year.

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