New California Bill Would Allow Caregivers to Better Help Seniors, Members Promote at Advocacy Day3/1/2023 The hard work of the HCAOA California Chapter has resulted in newly introduced legislation that would clarify existing law regarding the duties that home care aides may perform. Last week, Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, Vice Chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, filed Senate Bill 730 on behalf of hundreds of home care agencies, caregivers, and their clients. HCAOA California Chapter members advocated for support of this bill with their legislators during their Advocacy Day yesterday. SB730 would clarify that “assisting with medication that the client self-administers” means:
SB730 will additionally make clear that “toileting and incontinence care” includes assisting the client with emptying – but not removing or inserting – their colostomy, catheter, or urostomy bag and that reading “the blood pressure and the body temperature of the client” under the supervision of a nurse includes taking a reading of the client’s digital blood pressure or oxygen level and reporting the reading to the client’s medical care team. As California’s population ages, caregivers need to have authorization to provide non-medical services that seniors struggle to accomplish. HCAOA will keep its members updated on the status of this bill. Dozens of Members Spoke Up for Home Care at Advocacy Day Yesterday’s annual California Chapter Advocacy Day in Sacramento saw dozens of members unite to advocate for home care in the state. To begin the day, attendees met with Kim McCoy Wade, Senior Advisor on Aging, Disability, and Alzheimer’s to Governor Gavin Newsom; Elizabeth Fuller, Chief Consultant to the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care; and policy staff for Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. Attendees then spoke with legislators about the most pressing issues facing California’s home care agencies today, including overhauling cumbersome regulations and passing supportive bills like SB730. The challenging Guardian background check process was a major topic of conversation. Members expressed their dismay at the pace of processing of these crucial background checks and urged legislators to either fix or overhaul the system entirely. Legislators were receptive to comments and expressed thanks to members for sharing their thoughts. Please make sure to join us at your state’s Advocacy Day to influence home care there. Legislators enjoy hearing directly from constituents about how to better represent you and it does make a difference.
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![]() The HCAOA Arizona Chapter Conference on Wednesday, May 3, will be held at Venue8600, located at 8600 E. Anderson Drive, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The full-day, in-person event features business-building tips, federal and state updates on legislation and regulations, a networking luncheon, and more. ![]() Last week, HCAOA members spent the day at the South Carolina Capitol in Columbia advocating to ensure families have access to quality in-home personal care and caregivers are paid what they are worth. Members urged legislators to support the Department of Health and Human Services budget request of $30.5M for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers and Medically Complex Children’s Program (MCC) rate increases to address workforce challenges and wage disparity in the home care industry. Thank you to everyone who attended and raised their voices for home care! What are Veteran Care Options for Home Care Providers in Virginia? Learn More at State Conference3/1/2023 ![]() On Wednesday, April 5, Greg Bean of Paradigm Senior Services will discuss veteran care options for home care providers at the HCAOA Virginia Chapter Conference. Attendees will learn how working with VA programs offers the opportunity to make a positive impact on those who have served our country, as well as their own business. Details about the VA Community Care Network, HHA Homemaker and Respite Programs, the Aid and Assistance Program, and more will be shared. Home care providers from all over the state will gather at the Chicago Marriott O’Hare on Monday, May 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the HCAOA Illinois Chapter Conference.
The robust conference features insightful speakers, excellent networking, helpful information and more all tailored specifically for home care providers in Illinois. ![]() "National Home Care Advocacy Day is one of the most important events of the year,” said Michael Coccaro, General Counsel, SYNERGY HomeCare, HCAOA Board Member. “It's the opportunity for HCAOA members to join together and meet with our respective Congressional leaders to help move our industry forward.” The power of our collective group of home care providers visiting Washington, D.C. on March 29 will make an impact. “The landscape of Home Care is changing and that is why it is so important that we stand up, show up, and speak up about the challenges we face, the incredible outcomes that we deliver, and the positive impact that we make,” said Jessica Nobles, Co-founder, Home Care Ops. Workforce challenges? Help is on the way during the final “Removing Roadblocks to Revenue” webinar tomorrow, February 23, from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m., EST.
Having a positive impact on patient health and well-being far outweighed compensation when it came to caregiver satisfaction, according to results released last week by home care software provider HHAexchange.
Last week, a U.S. appeals court blocked a California law that prohibited employers from requiring their workers to resolve legal disputes in private arbitration, ruling that it conflicts with a federal arbitration statute. Signed into law in late 2019, the law, known as AB51, made it a criminal offense for employers to force employees to sign such arbitration agreements for claims they might make under state labor laws.
![]() Last week, HCAOA Board member and Founder and CEO of Trinity In Home Care Aaron Stapleton, was appointed to the OSHA SBREFA Panel on Prevention of Workplace Violence in Healthcare and Social Assistance. This group is working to develop a proposed standard to address workplace violence in the health care and social assistance industry. As a home care provider whose operations might be affected by this rule, Stapleton was chosen to serve on the workgroup to review information and participate in a small group teleconference to discuss concerns and input. The Small Business Advocacy Review panel teleconferences will be open for the public to listen, but not participate in. Stapleton will participate in one of the conferences. According to OSHA, “Nonfatal workplace violence is more widespread in the Healthcare and Social Assistance sectors than in any other industry. In 2019, the rate of nonfatal workplace violence incidents that required the worker to take time off was nearly five times greater in privately operated healthcare and social assistance establishments than in private industry overall. For certain segments within these industries, the rate is much higher. While workplace violence also occurs in other industries, healthcare and social assistance services have a common set of risk factors related to the unique relationship between the care provider and the patient, client, or their visitors.” ![]() The HCAOA Virginia Chapter Conference on Wednesday, April 5, in Richmond, will feature updates and guidance on new home care regulations from Virginia Department of Health Office of Licensure and Certification’s Deputy Director Ruthanne Risser and Supervisor of the Home Care Unit Robyn Wandrick. ![]() More than 2,600 people sent messages requesting increased funding for home- and community-based services remain in the Elizabeth Dole Act remain via HCAOA’s Legislative Action Network. Though the provision was removed from the bill, home care providers can continue to advocate for the funding by contacting their legislators. HCAOA CEO Vicki Hoak spoke with Home Health Care News’ Patrick Filbin about the removal of the provision in a recent article. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Proposes $268 Million Dollar Increase in HCBS Medicaid Funding2/22/2023 Recently, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released a supplemental budget request alongside her FY 24-25 budget recommendation to include $268.8 million to expand Medicaid home- and community-based services.
![]() The HCAOA Georgia Chapter Conference next Thursday, March 2, will focus on insider information about navigating regulatory changes, influencing Medicare funding, growing your home care business with VA programs, and more. Plan to attend the state conference from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Georgia Freight Depot’s Blue Room in Atlanta. HCAOA CEO On the Move – HCP Growth Summit and Discussing 2023 Home Care Trends with Rosemark2/22/2023 Home Care Pulse Growth Summit ![]() HCAOA CEO Vicki Hoak spoke at the Home Care Pulse Growth Summit last week about how advocacy is the responsibility of each home care provider and why. The nation is aging and there are growing demands on healthcare, in-home caregiving and assisted living. This societal aging can affect economic growth, patterns of work and retirement, the way families function, the ability of governments and communities to provide adequate resources for older adults, and the prevalence of chronic disease and disability, Hoak shared with attendees. Due to an insufficient workforce and growing “silver tsunami,” all home care providers need to step up and become advocates for their clients and the in-home care services they provide. Hoak shared tips on advocating well, some upcoming bills worth advocating for, opportunities to join with other providers for advocacy—like National Home Care Advocacy Day and encouraged attendees to remember why we advocate. |
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