![]() Last Thursday, Senate Republicans unveiled a $928 billion infrastructure counteroffer to President Biden’s original $1.9 trillion American Jobs Plan. The counteroffer is a substantial increase compared to the GOP’s previous five-year, $568 billion proposal, but still far less comprehensive than what the White House has called for, particularly when it comes to “soft infrastructure” like home- and community-based services. It seems unlikely that HCBS funding will be included in the initial infrastructure package, however, community-based services have historically been a bipartisan issue - so the funds could be included in a future package later this year.
1 Comment
While many Americans relaxed for the long Memorial Day weekend, HCAOA took the opportunity to speak with members about how THEY honor their clients who are veterans. Always Best Care Senior Services of Glenview and the North Shore spoke with two clients who served their country and shared their stories: U.S. Army Veteran, Samuel Thomas and U.S. Navy Veteran, George Blinick.
![]() HCAOA has joined a coalition of nearly 100 senior groups to advocate for the passage of HR 3321 and S1670, which calls for family caregivers to receive up to $5,000 in tax credits for out-of-pocket expenses related to caring for a loved one at home. Family caregivers in the U.S. provide billions of dollars of unpaid care. With such a financial toll on families, the Credit for Caring Act aims to help. ![]() Many home care agencies are finding new challenges as COVID restrictions ease across the U.S. More and more clients are requesting vaccinated caregivers only, so agencies are pondering mandatory COVID-19 vaccine programs and incentives for those who are vaccinated. Is mandating the vaccine for employees legal? The simple answer is: yes ![]() Are you taking advantage of this member benefit? HCAOA has partnered with CareerPlug to help our members with hiring. In 2021 so far, 10,596 job applications were received by HCAOA member agencies via the CareerPlug portal. We know hiring is a major issue right now - how many applications have you potentially missed out on by now utilizing CareerPlug? HCAOA members can create a basic account for free and keep an evergreen job posting online, or upgrade their account for even more benefits. In the several years since CMS permitted Medicare Advantage plans to offer home care as a supplemental benefit, HCAOA has been encouraging members to keep this on their radar as a potential new source for revenue. It’s been a slow start, but today 296 Medicare Advantage plans cover home care - and that number is growing. The time is NOW for home care agencies to develop an action plan to get involved with these networks and open up a whole new revenue stream.
![]() Brooks-LaSure previously served as a senior CMS official under the Obama administration and worked for the House Ways and Means Committee. In addition, she would be the first Black woman to hold the post if her nomination is confirmed by the U.S. Senate. On May 27, following a bipartisan confirmation by the U.S. Senate, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra formally swore in Chiquita Brooks-LaSure as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. ![]() Medline, a medical supply and equipment company that many HCAOA members utilize, has reportedly been acquired by private equity firms: the Blackstone Group, Carlyle Group and Hellman & Friedman LLC. Based in Illinois, Medline is a major producer and distributor of equipment from anesthesia to wheelchairs, beds and lab supplies used in hospitals and other healthcare centers in more than 110 countries. ABC News reported that: “Medline said in a statement that the company will continue to be privately held and led by the family of Charlie Mills, the chief executive officer, and that it will remain the largest single shareholder.” ![]() HCAOA members in Ohio recently participated in a meeting to discuss proposed legislation requiring licensure for Ohio’s medical and non-medical home care services. HCAOA decided to support current legislative language, rather than to propose additional specific services at this time. Click here to read the letter HCAOA sent to Representative Ginter. ![]() During the last legislative session, the Nevada Legislature made several efforts to increase the state minimum wage. One such effort was Assembly Joint Resolution No. 10 of the 80th Legislative Session (AJR 10). If successful, this proposed constitutional amendment would eliminate the two-tiered minimum wage system introduced by ballot initiative in 2006, and establish a single $12 minimum wage for all Nevada employees. This month, the Nevada Legislature passed the proposed amendment a second time, providing the two successive approvals necessary to place the amendment on the 2022 ballot. read more ![]() On July 1, some 6,000 individuals with brain injuries in Michigan may be faced with finding another way to receive care and support because of a major change to the state’s no fault auto insurance law. This reform will slash home care provider rates to 55% less than what providers received back in 2019. HCAOA urges its members in Michigan to let their voices be heard now on this legislation! This is part of the reform that had bi-partisan support, and was signed into law in 2019 by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The Michigan State Legislature is considering legislation that will address this concern. The time is NOW to write to your representatives about HB4486/SB314! ![]() The state Senate passed House Bill 6100, giving final legislative approval to legislation expanding background checks that home care agencies will be required to conduct on prospective employees. Chapter leadership worked closely with members of the General Law Committee and Department of Consumer Protection officials to ensure the bill met the concerns of HCAs. After a significant amount of testimony from agency owners in opposition and advocacy by the Chapter, DCP withdrew a ban on health care terms in agency business names and advertising. ![]() Last week, President Biden announced a list of nominees for a number of key roles, including David Weil as nominee to serve as Wage and Hour Administrator for the Department of Labor. Weil previously served as Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division under President Obama from 2014 to 2017. David Weil is Dean and professor at The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. Weil is an internationally-recognized expert in employment and labor market policy along with regulation, transparency policy, and the impacts of industry restructuring on employment, work, and business performance. ![]() On May 11, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee signed into law SB 5115, the Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA), which expands the workers’ compensation framework for infectious and contagious diseases and imposes new notice requirements on employers. The law adopts language similar to that contained in California’s SB 1159 (establishing a rebuttable presumption for workplace transmission of COVID-19) and AB 685 (creating notice requirements for potential workplace exposure to COVID-19) with some notable differences. read more I am writing in response to Nina A. Kohn’s op-ed on May 31, “It’s time to care about home care.” As someone who has advocated on behalf of home and community-based care services (HCBS) providers, workers, and consumers for more than 20 years and currently heads up the largest trade association for non-medical home care agencies in the country, Kohn’s assertion that “America needs to prioritize and support alternatives to nursing homes so that older adults can lead healthier and more satisfying lives” is music to my ears!
|
Archives
July 2024
Categories
All
Upcoming Events |
Phone: 202-519-2960 | 444 N. Capitol Street NW, Suite 428 | Washington, DC 20001
[email protected] | sitemap © 2024 Home Care Association of America. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Refund Policy |
|