New Law Could Increase Home Health, Hospice Labor Costs 30%

Lawmakers in one state recently passed a labor bill that could be damaging to the bottom lines of many home health and hospice agencies there. California’s Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5) passed in the Senate Wednesday and is headed to the desk of Governor Gavin Newsom, who is expected to sign the proposed legislation into […]

Outcry Continues Over Law Allowing Caregivers to Poach Home Care Clients

Home care providers and legislators in one state are voicing concerns about recent legislation that would allow caregivers to poach clients from home care agencies without being penalized. The provision was recently written into the Connecticut state budget. It bans noncompete contracts and similar agreements in “homemaker, companion or home health services.” In other words, […]

Legislation Would Allow Caregivers to Poach Home Care Agencies’ Clients

Home care agencies in one state could soon lose the right to prevent caregivers from poaching their clients, a move opponents worry would devastate providers. A provision recently added to the Connecticut state budget bans noncompete contracts and similar agreements in “homemaker, companion or home health services.” If passed, the legislation would remove home care […]

Fair Scheduling Trend Could Spell Trouble for At-Home Care Providers

In recent years and months, rising minimum wage has been top of mind for home-based care providers, adding another level of difficulty to attracting and retaining workers. But fair scheduling legislation that’s gaining steam in cities and states across the country could soon take center stage — and potentially make matters worse. Fair scheduling legislation […]

How to Protect Against Home Care Clients, Caregivers Cutting Out Agencies

Shortly after Jocelyn Mayo founded Pampering Plus, a Pennsylvania-based company that provides medical and nonmedical at-home services, a caregiver and private-pay client struck a deal to continue working together while cutting the agency out of the picture. Luckily, buyout agreements previously made with both parties helped Mayo recoup some of her losses. “[The client] paid […]

The Top Trends in Home Care for 2019

In many ways, 2018 was a coming of age for the home care industry, as it steadily became recognized as a key part of the overall continuum of care due to its ability to keep older adults safely at home and out of the hospital. Among the biggest changes to home care in 2018: the […]

Home Care Companies Increase Use of Noncompetes, Other Contract Restrictions

For decades, companies have used noncompete clauses to retain top executives and protect trade secrets. But now, similar agreements are becoming more common among low-wage home care workers, which experts say can be a double-edged sword. As the caregiver shortage continues and the demand for home care increases, restrictive agreements will only become more common, […]

Home Care Lawsuits Target Non-Compliant Websites, Payment for Training

Typically, litigation trends in any given industry are on a bell curve — activity peaks and then starts to drop, as companies button-up their practices. But in home care, litigation has been pretty steady over the last three years, according to Angelo Spinola, a shareholder and attorney at international labor and employment legal firm Littler Mendelson. […]

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 […]