![]() On Monday, May 10, Governor Brian Kemp signed HB 81 approving the SFY 2022 budget that will become effective July 1, 2021. This approved budget contains a 10% rate increase for home & community-based services provided under the Medicaid Elderly and Disabled Waiver Programs. This budget approval culminates extensive efforts by home & community-based providers throughout the entire legislative session. Your HCAOA Georgia Chapter was a leading champion of the 10% reimbursement rate increase for all home and community-based providers that serve Elderly and Disabled Medicaid Waiver Program recipients across the state. The HCAOA Georgia Chapter and our entire industry thanks the Governor, and members of the House and Senate for supporting these vulnerable Georgians.
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![]() On Monday, President Biden said in a speech that Americans collecting unemployment benefits under the American Rescue Plan must accept "suitable" employment when offered, or they will lose their benefits. Many HCAOA members have expressed frustration with unemployment benefits, which have made it difficult to retain or hire workers. “We’re pleased to see this directive come out of the Biden Administration because so many of our members are turning away business every day because they don’t have workers to provide the care,” explained Vicki Hoak, HCAOA Executive Director. “While we recognize that unemployment benefits are there for those who cannot find work, we are pleased that the Administration is restating the rules for receiving those benefits.” ![]() Since May is both National Mental Health Awareness Month and Older Americans Month, HCAOA is taking this time to recognize the challenges many seniors have faced over the last year. In the proclamation declaring May as Older Americans Month, President Biden stated, “The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed tremendous hardships on our Nation’s older Americans. ![]() The Direct Creation, Advancement, and Retention of Employment (CARE) Opportunity Act of 2021 (H.R. 2999) was introduced by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) on May 4. With so much demand for home care and not enough workers to provide it, this proposed legislation would provide funds to states and entities to invest in strategies to recruit, retain and advance the direct care workforce pipeline. Employers, such as home care providers, are eligible under this legislation. ![]() A joint meeting of the Legislative and Chapter Committees is scheduled for Saturday, September 25, from 2-4 p.m. at the Hilton Orlando Hotel, the day before the Annual Leadership Conference begins. According to HCAOA Executive Director Vicki Hoak, this joint meeting will focus on the critical role of advocacy at both the state and national level. “Our state chapters have done a wonderful job throughout the pandemic, and we’re looking forward to sharing best practices of successful advocacy efforts, membership recruitment practices and effective chapter operations,” said Hoak. ![]() Last Wednesday, President Biden delivered his first joint address before Congress. He directly noted the importance of seniors receiving care in their own homes, and stated that regardless of political party, a concern for countless Americans is taking care of elderly loved ones. Biden also reminded us that: “Two million women have dropped out of the workforce during this pandemic, too often because they couldn’t get the care they need for their family… and 800,000 families are on a Medicaid waiting list right now to get home care for their aging parent or loved one with a disability.” ![]() All home care agencies in Idaho are invited to participate in a free webinar co-hosted by HCAOA and the Idaho Health Care Association, which represents long-term care providers in Idaho, on Tuesday, May 25 from 10-11 a.m. MT. There are several initiatives in both Washington, DC and in Boise that could greatly impact home care agencies. Register here. ![]() On Monday, President Biden signed an executive order creating a new White House task force led by Vice President Harris focused on promoting labor unions. The executive order directs the new task force to make recommendations within 180 days on how already existing federal policies and programs can be used to help workers organize and collectively bargain in the public and private sectors. The task force will also make recommendations on potential new policies and regulatory changes. The new HCAOA Policy and Regulatory Committee is currently working on position papers regarding a variety of issues, including information about labor unions’ impacts on HCAOA member agencies. ![]() Arizona Governor Doug Ducey recently signed Senate Bill 1377 after a push from Republican legislators to limit civil liability exposure for “Good Samaritans” who have worked to protect and provide for Arizonans during the COVID-19 health crisis. The new law provides a shield from civil liability for certain individuals and institutions that act in good faith to protect others from injury, death, or loss resulting from the pandemic. Read more On April 26, 2021, the initial set of data from the 2020 Census was released. Among all 50 states, 37 grew more slowly in the 2010s than in the previous decade, and three states lost population—the largest number of such states since the 1980s. The constitutionally mandated reapportionment of members of Congress based on the 2020 census indicates a reallocation of seven seats across various states—most notably, the first-ever loss of a seat for California.
![]() On April 12, 2021, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed two bills into law, legalizing the use and possession of recreational cannabis and allowing for the expungement of certain cannabis-related criminal records. With this development, New Mexico joins many other states that have legalized recreational cannabis for adults 21 and older. The use of cannabis for medicinal purposes was previously authorized in New Mexico by the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, which was passed in 2007. read more ![]() HCAOA and the National Association for Home Care & Hospice have teamed up with Polsinelli to provide a free home care industry legal update regarding the latest legislative and litigation-related developments. Representatives from each group will discuss the latest federal laws, updated regarding new Department of Labor initiatives, and updates on COVID-19 related safety protocols mandated by the federal or larger state governments. Join us for this free webinar on Thursday May 20 at 12:00p.m. ET. ![]() Earlier this month, President Biden announced that he intends to nominate Douglas L. Parker to lead the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Mr. Parker is currently the chief of California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, commonly known as Cal/OSHA, a position he has held since September 2019. Mr. Parker previously served in the Department of Labor under the administration of President Obama as deputy assistant secretary for policy with the Mine Safety and Health Administration, and he was a member of the Biden-Harris transition team. ![]() Governor Jim Justice recently signed into law Senate Bill 272, the West Virginia Employment Law Workers Classification Act, which goes into effect on June 9, 2021. The legislation provides standards for determining who is an employee and who is an independent contractor under certain West Virginia statutes. Read more |
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