Lawmakers Look to Eliminate 24-Hour Workdays in Home Care

Lawmakers in one state have introduced a bill that would effectively eliminate 24-hour workdays in home care. If it passes, the legislation could mean significant financial strain for home care agencies there.  It’s happening in New York — a state that frequently serves as a starting point for legal trends that then sweep the rest […]

Regulatory Changes Threaten to Compound Caregiver Crisis

For years now, the caregiver crisis has plagued the home care industry, with demand far outpacing supply in most parts of the county and home care turnover hitting an all-time high of 82% in 2018. In New York, regulatory changes are about to make the problem a lot worse, according to industry leaders in the […]

Movers & Shakers: LHC Group Names New CMO, Senior Helpers Adds to Board

LHC Group names new chief medical officer LHC Group Inc. (Nasdaq: LHCG) has appointed Dr. Tricia Nguyen as its new executive vice president and chief medical officer. Lafayette, Louisiana-based LHC Group and its 32,000 employees deliver home health, hospice, personal care and facility-based services to patients throughout 36 states. In her new role, Dr. Nguyen […]

Two-Thirds of NY’s Private-Sector Job Creation in 2018 Linked to Home Care

Despite recruitment and retention remaining an industry-wide pain point, home care positions have become a major component of job growth in New York. That’s according to a recent report from the New York City Independent Budget Office (IBO), a publicly funded agency that provides nonpartisan information about New York City’s budget and tax revenues. Released […]

Home Care Providers Avoid 13-Hour Rule Financial Disaster

Home care providers have come out on top in a long legal battle to decide whether live-in home care aides in New York should be paid for 24 hours of work or for the 13 hours currently mandated. The New York Court of Appeal issued its decision in Andryeyeva V. New York Health Care Inc. […]

Citing ‘Inadequate’ Managed Care Payments, Nonprofit Home Care Provider Announces Layoffs

Lengthy payment delays, negative operating margins and severe labor shortages have contributed to a challenging financial environment for home-based care providers doing business in the state of New York. The financial hardship has even triggered layoffs in some cases, including at one of the state’s certified home health agencies serving the largest number of patients […]

Dozens of NYC Home Care Agencies Investigated, Fined for Labor Violations

Throughout the past several months, New York City officials have been investigating area home care agencies following reports of widespread noncompliance with labor laws and regulations. Findings from the major enforcement initiative — which has already resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in restitution and fines — were formally announced Tuesday by the New York […]

New York Considering Advanced Home Health Aide Designation

New York has announced plans for an advanced home health aide program in the state and is currently taking comment from industry stakeholders. Last week, the New York State Department of Education published proposed regulations for an advanced home health aide (AHHA) program in the state register. The AHHA program effectively allows home health aides […]

Agencies in Limbo as 13-Hour Rule Back in Legal Spotlight

New York’s “13-hour rule”—a term referring to the allowance of home care aides to be paid for just 13 hours of work instead of an entire 24-hour shift—is back in the spotlight after months of legal back-and-forth. Under current regulatory policy, live-in aides working in New York do not receive pay during hours slept or meals […]