HCAOA The Voice Summer 2020

16 HCAOA The Voice MEMBER NEWS WHILE THE FEDERAL RESPONSE TO COVID-19 focused on big-picture items, many state governments focused their efforts on minimizing contact points for essential workers, and extending Medicaid funding to essential workers. For the home care industry, most efforts were directed at being involved in those conversa - tions so that agencies could continue serving the most vulnerable population during this pandemic—seniors. “As an active chapter, we have a great lobbying partner in Leslie Emerick, who has been able to get us to tables that we didn’t even know existed,” said Shawn D’Amelio, Chapter Chair in Washington. In addition to pursuing essential recognition and funding from their state legislatures, HCAOA chapters banded together to find new ways to share information and discuss the challenges of delivering quality care in such a fraught period. Chapter leadership in Illinois, Washington, Florida, Arizona, Connecticut, Virginia, New York, Michigan, South Carolina, and California were able to adapt and hold formal and informal online sessions, joined often by Executive Director, Vicki Hoak, and federal lobbyist, Patrick Cooney, which helped to answer questions about the specific challenges facing agencies during COVID-19 and facilitate information sharing among membership. Here are a few of the legislative wins our chapters helped procure for the industry, caregivers, and seniors. Chapters Mobilize to Protect Home Care During Pandemic Washington Sees Home Care Named Top-tier for PPE, Waivers for In-person Licensing Checks In May, Hospice, Home Health and Homecare were classified by the Washington Department of Health as Tier 1 for the Prioritization of PPE. Additionally, the State Department of Social and Health Services extended a rate increase to home care agencies, among other essential businesses. Finally, the DOH approved several waivers for in-person checks on home health and hospice In-Home-Services agencies, including background checks, caregiver evaluations, and plan of care updates. Illinois Suspends In-Person Supervisory Visits for Home Health, Home Care and Home Nursing Agencies In April, the Illinois Department of Public Health issued guidance suspending RN and Agency super - visory visits required under Illinois’s licensing laws. IDPH has determined that electronic visits conducted via telephone, video chat, Facetime, Skype, or other means are sufficient to “ensure the health care aide furnishes care in a safe and effec - tive manner by following the patient’s plan, is competent with assigned tasks, complies with infection prevention and control policies and procedures, reports changes in the patient’s condition, honors the patient’s rights, and maintains open communication.” Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services Offer $2/hr Hazard Pay for Medicaid Agencies Michigan extended an additional $2 per hour to caregivers who participate in Medicaid, according to guidance issued at the beginning of May. The pay extension must be applied directly to caregiver wages for work performed in April, May and June. The Michigan HHS advises that direct care workers should still follow guid - ance issued in March titled “Actions for Caregivers of Older Adults During COVID-19” along with the document “Actions for Caregivers for Older Adults Addendum – Frequently Asked Questions.” These documents describe recommendations for in-home direct care workers and methods to assure a face-to-face visit is needed. Florida Chapter Wins Several Exceptions and Extensions for Home Care The Florida chapter won several concessions for their caregivers and businesses from the governor’s office and the Agency of Health Care Administration (AHCA). The chapter received a letter from Governor DeSantis within the first few days of lockdown confirming home care as essential work. Concessions from AHCA include: • Extended the time needed for expirations for CPR and worker licenses. • Extended the expiration dates for home care agency licenses. • Exception to the state law that mandates home care agency offices be open 8 consecutive hours per day on weekdays. This has been excepted to allow for remote work. • Exceptions to the background screening process. Home care agencies in the state are required to have fingerprinting for a Florida Department of Law Enforcement and FBI background checks. This has been excepted because many fingerprinting sites were closed due to the pandemic. At press time, the chapter was working on clarity regarding home care worker access to long term care facilities. Currently, required documentation for home care agencies that have clients at care facilities is unclear and inconsistently applied.