HCAOA The Voice Winter 2019-20

7 Winter 2019–20 MEMBER NEWS Home Care Providers Participate in Educational Program with Lawmakers L to R: State Sen. George S. Logan (R-17th Dist., Ansonia), Rep. Jillian Gilchrest (D-18th Dist., West Hartford), and Chaim Gewirtzman, chairman of HCAOA Connecticut. In October, home care providers gathered at Eli’s on Whitney in Hamden, Conn., for an educational program organized by HCAOA Connecticut. The event, which concerned the home care industry under pressure, drew many HCAOA Connecticut members who heard from key state lawmakers, networked with industry peers and delivered the message of the importance of home care to seniors, workers, small businesses and the state’s economy. HCAOA Connecticut chairman Chaim Gewirtzman, CEO of NCE Homecare in Waterbury, moderated a discussion with two state lawmakers, Rep. Jillian Gilchrest (D-18th Dist., West Hartford) and Sen. George S. Logan (R-17th Dist., Ansonia), Assistant Senate Republican Leader. The lawmakers discussed their policies in relation to home care and answered questions from attendees. HCAOA Florida HCAOA Florida Welcomes New Lobbying Partner HCAOA Florida is pleased to welcome the government relations team at Dean Mead as our new lobbying partner. Jennifer Ungru will be the Project Director and lead point of contact. Prior to entering private practice, Jennifer served as chief of staff for the Agency for Health Care Administration (ACHA), among other government leadership roles. Jennifer and the team have strong relationships throughout the state and have an understanding of what home care is and why it is so vital for the future of Floridians. We would also like to take the opportunity to thank our outgoing lobbyist, Drew Smith, for his efforts on our behalf over the years. While we know that many of you developed a strong relationship with Drew, we have carefully undertaken this search, with chapter leadership involved at every step of the process. Multiple lobbyists, including Drew, were interviewed, and our decision was made with the intent of putting HCAOA Florida in the strongest position to create a positive impact for home care providers and the communi- ties that they serve in the state. We are excited to continue to pursue the chapter’s 2020 legis- lative and regulatory goals and look forward to providing future updates. HCAOA Georgia At the most recent Georgia chapter meeting, a near-capacity audi- ence heard presentations on Meeting Compliance Requirements with Fingerprinting from Elaine Wright, Director of State Licensure Programs at the Georgia Department of Community Health; the Top 10 Private Care Licensure Violations Cited from Michele Robinson, Director of Private Homecare at the Healthcare Facility Regulation Division (HFRD) of the Department of Community Health; and a State Legislative Update from Rusty Paul, HCAOA Georgia Lobbyist and HCAOA board member Rep. Jesse Petrae. HCAOA Chapter Highlights HCAOA Connecticut The Georgia Chapter of HCAOA held their most recent Chapter meeting, sponsored by AlayaCare, on November 14 at the Georgian Terrace Hotel in Atlanta.