Home Care Groups: Industry Needs More Time To Review ‘One Of The Most Impactful Proposed Rules’ In Medicaid HCBS History

Three major home-based care groups are asking the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for more time to review the agency’s recent Medicaid proposal, which features a handful of provisions that could prove challenging for operators. Among those provisions mandate thresholds on reimbursement, in which CMS would require that at least 80% of […]

Medicaid Wage Proposal Could Prompt HCBS Operators To Exit Market, Discourage New Providers From Entering

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published two proposed rules that have major implications for home-based care providers. The provision that has created the greatest waves among providers and industry stakeholders is the potential requirement that at least 80% of Medicaid payments for personal care, homemaker and home health aide services […]

Increased Funding From VA For Home-Based Care Stripped From Dole Act

This month, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee removed a provision in the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act that would have increased funding for home- and community-based services. The decision was a disappointing one for home-based care advocates. It came in the final moments before the piece of legislation was finalized. “We started out this new […]

In-Home Care Agencies Eye Investments as More States Pass Dementia-Training Laws

Last month, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a bill into law that in-home care providers who treat Alzheimer’s patients around the country should have their eye on. The bill requires home health aides in Indiana to have minimum dementia training standards, in hopes that patients who suffer from the complicated disease will receive more quality […]

HCAOA Highlights 6 Key Policy Priorities for the Home Care Industry

Policy and regulations for home care haven’t kept pace with the growing demand for services and the overall increased visibility of the sector. For policymakers looking to address industry challenges and ultimately increase access to home care, there are six policy priorities that should be considered, a new report released Wednesday by the Home Care […]

Government Watchdogs Increasingly Targeting Home Care Agencies

The next year will be a big one for home care. There will be increased opportunities for agencies with a larger national spotlight shone on them.  Meanwhile, there are both legal threats and advocacy efforts that should be top of everyone’s mind, Home Care Association of America (HCAOA) CEO Vicki Hoak said during Home Care Pulse’s […]

Top Home Care Predictions for 2022

The personal home care industry has received unprecedented recognition and praise over the last two years. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris explicitly mentioned home care – and home care workers – on the campaign trail and after inauguration. “Just the fact that a sitting president is talking about home care is huge,” […]

HCAOA’s Vicki Hoak: Industry Standardization, Revenue Diversification Will Help Home Care Solidify Its Star Power

If 2020 was the year home care finally entered the spotlight, then 2021 was the year the industry solidified that star power while gaining powerful allies. No one understands this better than Vicki Hoak, executive director of the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA). As the top executive of an organization that represents nearly 3,000 […]