Tag: Private Duty Home Care at NAHC

NAHC’s Private Duty Committees Meet

As NAHC’s Private Duty membership has grown, so, too, has the interest from members in getting involved, resulting in the creation of three individual committees. These committees, focusing on Education, Membership, and Policy, will support the Private Duty Advisory Council by submitting recommendations and guidance on priorities.

The current committee members are:

Education:

  • Candyce Slusher, Slusher Consulting – Chairperson
  • Cheryl Graham, Qualicare
  • Michael Javitt, LifeCare Home Health Family
  • Maggie Keen, MissionCare Collective
  • Jessica Nobles, Nobility Care Solutions
  • Guy Tommassi, LIFETIME Care at Home
  • Cris Toscano, BAYADA
  • Julie Wolff, MatrixCare

Membership:

  • Sheila Davis, Always Best Care Senior Services – Chairperson
  • Patti Lewis, Interim Healthcare
  • Sam Smith, BRC Access Care
  • Laura Templeton, Compassus
  • Kim Wilkerson, SimiTree

Policy:

  • Kathleen Smith, Gentiva – Chairperson
  • Renee Bush, Home Care Association of Florida
  • Tabitha Dowd, MAS Home Care
  • Lisa Ferden, Generations
  • Brandi Kurtyka, MissionCare Collective
  • Jim Melancon, Aveanna
  • Kristen Robison, Angels of Care Pediatric
  • Albert Simien, LHC Group
  • Damon Terzaghi, NAHC

Each of the Committee Chairpersons along with Executive Director of Private Duty, Kristen Wheeler, held their inaugural meeting recently to make introductions, approve the Committee’s Guiding Principles, and discuss this year’s goals and initiatives. The Committees will reconvene at the end of this month to finalize those goals for submission to the Council.

Are you interested in getting involved with one or more of the Committees? Let Kristen Wheeler know at kwheeler@nahc.org or at (305) 849-1300.

Notes from the Private Duty Advisory Council

NAHC’s Private Duty Advisory Council monthly meeting this week, featuring an update on NAHC’s advocacy efforts as well as potential policies being monitored from Co-chair Brittnei Salerno of La Jolla Nurses Homecare and Executive Director of Private Duty at NAHC Kristen Wheeler. Legislation being watched by the NAHC Advocacy Team includes:

NAHC President William A. Dombi reminded the group that these bills will need to be reintroduced next year for the new Congress. We are very unlikely to see any movement on this legislation during the lame duck session of the current Congress.

Council Co-Chair Brittnei Salerno of La Jolla Nurses Homecare and Private Duty Executive Director Kristen Wheeler shared updates on these items, as well as a regulatory update that may potentially affect providers in the Southeast United States. The US Department of Labor (DOL) announced a new initiative to better enforce violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The campaign aims to improve compliance in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

“The US DOL is determined to ensure these workers are not denied any of their hard-earned wages. Our current initiative combines compliance assistance and enforcement to decrease violations by employers in the care industries,” said DOL’s Wage & Hour Division Regional Administrator Juan Coria. The initiative will focus on resources to educate care workers in the industry along with targeting the misclassification of workers as independent contractors. A public webinar hosted by the DOL on Thursday, November 17, 2022, will review the protections for care workers so that employers and workers alike will understand their rights and responsibilities currently protected by the FLSA. The states being targeted are a result of division investigators identifying violations in nearly 89 percent of investigations completed in home and nursing care completed between 2020 and 2022.

During the state share portion of the meeting, the Council discussed the recently passed $15 minimum wage for Medicaid direct service providers in Florida. Council member Maxine Hochhauser of LHC Group told the group that the Medicaid fee schedule increase simply does not cover the cost of providing services. Expectations are that many Medicaid recipients will no longer have access to care unless the reimbursement rates are increased. The Home Care Association of Florida has joined the Florida Assisted Living Association and the Florida Ambulance Association in challenging the state’s Agency for Healthcare Administration on this requirement, maintaining that the agency did not use a proper rule-making process to define “direct care” workers who would be affected by the wage change. Further information will be shared as it becomes available.

Council members that sit on various workgroups of the Home Care Action Alliance updated the group on the efforts of those groups. Meetings are in their final stages and Project Manager Pat Kelleher is compiling recommendations of the groups. An early December release of these recommendations and action items is on track.

NAHC’s Private Duty Summit is expected to come to fruition in 2023 as a “conference within a conference” at the Annual Conference & Expo in October. The summit will feature robust educational sessions and will be individually branded to ensure attendees understand the separation. However, attendees will also be allowed access to the keynote general sessions as well as the lively trade show hall.

Bill Dombi rounded out the meeting with an update on what’s happening on Capitol Hill with home care legislation.

Interested in being a part of the Private Duty Advisory Council in 2023? Let us know!

The Private Duty Benefits of NAHC Membership

As a member of NAHC, you already know that membership has its privileges. From complimentary webinars to up-to-the-minute news announcements related to our industry, NAHC prides itself on bringing the very best in class to our members. But, are you aware of all of the benefits available for NAHC’s Private Duty members? Here’s a look:

  1. Expert advice and regulatory guidance just a phone call or email away;
  2. Policy advocates fighting on your behalf year-round before agencies like the Department of Labor, the IRS, and Health & Human Services;
  3. The opportunity to participate in NAHC’s Private Duty Home Care Certification program, the only national certification created by private duty leaders, exclusively for the private duty community;
  4. Inclusion in the NAHC Communities, our online vibrant and respected community of home care, home health and hospice professionals that allows for networking, sharing of information and best practices, plus up-to-the-minute updates about news that affects your business. Sign up to be part of one or all!
  5. World-class educational programming offered free or at the lowest cost to members, including our Annual Conference and Expo, held each fall, the Financial Managers’ Conference each summer and the Private Duty at NAHC Leadership Summits in the spring, along with various meetings, workshops and webinars year-round;
  6. Exposure to potential referrals via an Enhanced Listing on our Agency Locator, an online searchable database used by consumers;
  7. Subscription to the Private Duty Source, a members-only newsletter delivering weekly updates on the latest news affecting private pay home care;
  8. Two complimentary job postings per month on the NAHC Home Care & Hospice Career Center;
  9. Tools and resources, including model forms, policies and procedures, and other documents, plus links to various States’ regulatory websites and State Associations;
  10. Exclusive discounts on products and services through NAHC affinity partnerships, including savings on translation services, insurance, and more, in the Business Partner Marketplace; and,
  11. Demonstrate your integrity and commitment to the home care industry on your website and in marketing materials with the NAHC member seal.

Have questions or thoughts about other benefits you’d like to see? Contact Kristen Wheeler, Executive Director of Private Duty Home Care at NAHC, at kwheeler@nahc.org or (305) 849-1300.

The Private Duty Benefits of NAHC Membership

As a member of NAHC, you already know that membership has its privileges. From complimentary webinars to up-to-the-minute news announcements related to our industry, NAHC prides itself on bringing the very best in class to our members. But, are you aware of all of the benefits available for NAHC’s Private Duty members? Here’s a look:

  1. Expert advice and regulatory guidance just a phone call or email away;
  2. Policy advocates fighting on your behalf year-round before agencies like the Department of Labor, the IRS, and Health & Human Services;
  3. The opportunity to participate in NAHC’s Private Duty Home Care Certification program, the only national certification created by private duty leaders, exclusively for the private duty community;
  4. Inclusion in the NAHC Communities, our online vibrant and respected community of home care, home health and hospice professionals that allows for networking, sharing of information and best practices, plus up-to-the-minute updates about news that affects your business. Sign up to be part of one or all!
  5. World-class educational programming offered free or at the lowest cost to members, including our Annual Conference and Expo, held each fall, the Financial Managers’ Conference each summer and the Private Duty at NAHC Leadership Summits in the spring, along with various meetings, workshops and webinars year-round;
  6. Exposure to potential referrals via an Enhanced Listing on our Agency Locator, an online searchable database used by consumers;
  7. Subscription to the Private Duty Source, a members-only newsletter delivering weekly updates on the latest news affecting private pay home care;
  8. Two complimentary job postings per month on the NAHC Home Care & Hospice Career Center;
  9. Tools and resources, including model forms, policies and procedures, and other documents, plus links to various States’ regulatory websites and State Associations;
  10. Exclusive discounts on products and services through NAHC affinity partnerships, including savings on translation services, insurance, and more, in the Business Partner Marketplace; and,
  11. Demonstrate your integrity and commitment to the home care industry on your website and in marketing materials with the NAHC member seal.

Have questions or thoughts about other benefits you’d like to see? Contact Kristen Wheeler, Executive Director of Private Duty Home Care at NAHC, at kwheeler@nahc.org or (305) 849-1300.

New Webinar! Paid Time Off: Creating and Structuring a Benefit Program to Recruit, Retain, and Reward

  • Date: Thursday, July 14th, 2022
  • Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET
  • Register now

Many of us take paid time off for granted, but most home care field staff do not receive this benefit so they don’t get paid if they’re not working. Offering this highly desirable benefit is one way to reward employees, distinguish your company from your competitors, and enable you to attract better employees who are loyal and highly motivated. Some states have already adopted paid sick leave programs and that trend is expected to spread, so this could be the perfect time for your agency to get ahead of the government, as well as your competition. Join Private Duty Home Care at NAHC for this lively and informative discussion with a top employment industry expert.

Learning Objectives:

  • Sick time, vacation time, or PTO – how to structure time off to best benefit your organization and your staff
  • Mental health/personal days – why they’re important and what you can do to implement them easily
  • How rewarding staff that works can lead to long-term staff retention and loyalty

Faculty: Greg Henderson, Human Resources Outsourcing Manager at Whirks

Greg Henderson brings over 20 years of military experience and operational knowledge into working first-hand with his clients as the HRO Manager at Whirks. He is engaged in helping small business owners establish awe-inspiring organizations by enhancing their HR solutions to provide purpose, direction, and motivation through an innovative and personable approach. Greg was recently invited to be a member of the exclusive Forbes Human Resources Council and is a regular editorial contributor for Forbes. Host of a weekly LinkedIn video series called From Boots to Loafers, Greg draws on his past military leadership as a focal point for today’s leaders. Greg has a passion to help small business owners achieve their goals which continue to fuel Whirks’ mission for its clients and itself, to get one step better every day. Greg is married to Amanda and they have five children. When he is not in the office, Greg enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and going on daily adventures.

Pricing:

Letter from the Executive Director: Private Duty at NAHC Hosts Inaugural Town Hall Meeting

Private duty home care providers and industry leaders from around the country joined newly appointed Executive Director of Private Duty at NAHC, Kristen Wheeler, along with several members of NAHC’s Private Duty Advisory Council on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, to share information and learn more about NAHC’s advocacy efforts as they relate to the workforce crisis in the country.

Dave Totaro, Chief Government Affairs Officer for BAYADA and one of the Council’s two Co-Chairs, shared information about NAHC’s efforts to form the Home Care Workforce Action Alliance (HCWAA), a collaboration of several national associations with a common goal: alleviation of the home care worker staffing crisis. A formal announcement about HCWAA is scheduled for May 18th, 2022, but attendees learned about the history of the collaboration, its four key components and what the Call to Action will look like.

NAHC’s Director of Grassroots Advocacy, Summer Napier, shared her grassroots plan, asking for all attendees to identify the person in their company best suited to be named as their advocacy leader. “I know that sometimes in the private duty world, it seems like we get overlooked because there’s not as much noise about it,” Summer said, “and, I think that’s what Kristen and I, along with the Council, are really passionate about changing.” Attendees were encouraged to share their stories because, as Dave pointed out, elected officials hear about data points all day long, but it’s the individual stories from constituents that they remember.

President and CEO La Jolla Nurses Homecare and Council Co-Chair, Brittnei Salerno, talked to attendees about other potential legislation that NAHC is keeping a close eye on, including the introduction of a federal bill that would shorten the current 40-hour work week to 32 hours. While this bill in its current iteration isn’t picking up much steam, NAHC is watching it and will keep members apprised of any changes of note.

Kristen Wheeler, Executive Director of Private Duty at NAHC

A recording of the meeting can be watched by registering here. 

Do you have topics for discussion at future Town Hall meetings? Contact Kristen Wheeler at kwheeler@nahc.org or directly at (305) 849-1300.

Private Duty at NAHC Town Hall Spring 2022: Workforce Advocacy & More!

Wednesday, May 4, 2022 3:00 – 4:00 PM Eastern REGISTER Free to NAHC members! Sponsored by Generations Homecare System Private Duty Home Care at NAHC will hold an important town hall webinar on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern to discuss the major issues and challenges facing private duty home care operators today. Workforce…

Private Duty at NAHC Town Hall Spring 2022: Workforce Advocacy & More!

Private Duty Home Care at NAHC will hold an important town hall webinar on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern to discuss the major issues and challenges facing private duty home care operators today.

Workforce shortages and the caregiver crisis are top of mind for private duty providers everywhere. Join Executive Director of Private Duty at NAHC, Kristen Wheeler, and members of NAHC’s Private Duty Advisory Council for this inaugural Town Hall meeting of 2022. Explore the latest about NAHC’s collaborative efforts to advocate at the federal level on behalf of the caregiver workforce and learn what NAHC’s new grassroots advocacy plan.

With several Advisory Council members in attendance throughout the meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to share individual challenges and triumphs and discuss best practices with colleagues from around your state and across the nation. Be part of the future of Private Duty at NAHC! Limited to 100 registrants – register now!

Pricing

NAHC Members: FREE
Non-members: $45

Speakers

  • Brittnei Salerno, President/CEO, La Jolla Nurses Homecare
  • Dave Totaro, Chief Government Affairs Officer, BAYADA Home Health Care
  • Cris Toscano, Chief Operating Officer, Skilled Nursing, BAYADA Home Health Care
  • Sam Smith, CEO/ President, BRC Access Care, Inc.
  • Nicholas Oliver, Executive Director, Rhode Island Partnership for Home Care
  • Sheila Davis, Senior Vice-President, Area Operations, Always Best Care Senior Services
  • Stephanie Johnston, President & CEO, Transcend Strategy Group
  • Kristen Wheeler, Executive Director of Private Duty, NAHC

Private Duty at NAHC Town Hall Spring 2022: Workforce Advocacy & More!

Wednesday, May 4, 2022 3:00 – 4:00 PM Eastern REGISTER Free to NAHC members! Sponsored by Generations Homecare System Private Duty Home Care at NAHC will hold an important town hall webinar on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern to discuss the major issues and challenges facing private duty home care operators…

Kristen Wheeler is the New Executive Director of Private Duty Home Care at NAHC

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) is pleased to formally announce that Kristen Wheeler has assumed the role of Executive Director of Private Duty Home Care at NAHC, effective Monday, March 7, 2022. Kristen comes aboard following the departure of Emilie Bartolucci, who departed in November of 2021.

“We are very excited to have Kristen join the NAHC staff as the new Executive Director of Private Duty Home Care,” said NAHC President William A. Dombi. “Kristen is someone who brings the perfect blend of talent and experience. She will add great strength to NAHC’s support of private duty home care. This is a big gain for all NAHC members.”

Many of you may already be familiar with Kristen. She joins NAHC from the Home Care Association of Florida (HCAF), having served as the inaugural Director of Private Duty Services for nearly six years. During her tenure with HCAF, Kristen was highly successful in growing the Association’s Private Duty membership, as well as adding to the benefits and services available for members.

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