HHAC Advises HCBS Agencies To Temporarily Refrain From Responding to SB19-238 Survey 

Posted: Nov. 4, 2020

The Home Care & Hospice Association of Colorado believes that a new Home & Community-Based Services agency survey posted by the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing goes beyond the language of SB-238. HHAC has advised the agency of its concerns and hopes HCPF will make needed corrections. 

The survey was posted Nov. 1 to the agency administrative portal of HCPF’s Gainwell system, which administers the state’s Medicaid program. 

As the survey isn’t due until Dec. 31, HHAC is asking members to refrain from taking the survey for now.

Aurora’s Decision Against Raising Minimum Wage Provides Opportunity To Press For Increased HCBS Reimbursement

Posted: Nov. 4, 2020

The Home Care & Hospice Association of Colorado and its member agencies will have another year to persuade legislators to raise Medicaid Home & Community Based Services reimbursements. 

The Aurora City Council, poised to raise wages to $17 by 2025, narrowly reversed course and early Tuesday rejected the proposal 6-5 with Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman casting the deciding vote. 

HHAC pressed councilmembers to reject the increase and focus first on obtaining higher Medicaid reimbursement. New HHAC member Angela Mulcahy was among callers citing the consequences that insufficient reimbursement would have on Medicaid clients and caregivers in each of Aurora’s six council wards. 

HHAC remains concerned agencies will not take new Medicaid clients in Aurora, or worse, will discharge Medicaid clients in Aurora because they can’t pay the higher wages and remain solvent. 

Agencies: If you’re not a member of the association, please join TODAY to help HHAC in its advocacy efforts and to receive more frequent updates on this and other items potentially affecting your agency. 

Aveanna Healthcare Acquires Colorado-based Evergreen Home Healthcare

Posted: Nov. 4, 2020

Evergreen Home Healthcare (Evergreen), has successfully been acquired by Aveanna Healthcare, according to a press release from The Forbes M+A Group, which advised Evergreen on the transaction.

Evergreen Home Healthcare, LLC is a locally owned and operated company founded in 2007 and located on Colorado's Front Range. Since 2007, the company has helped hundreds of patients of all ages with a multitude of medical needs and conditions, receive the home care they need. Evergreen provides comprehensive home healthcare, including acute care and long-term medical care, specialized pediatric care, and more from compassionate caregivers.

Atlanta-based Aveanna is the nation's largest provider of pediatric home care. We offer high-quality pediatric skilled nursing, pediatric therapy, autism services, enteral nutrition, therapy, and adult services. Aveanna has two offices in Aurora and one office each in Colorado Springs, Denver, Englewood, Loveland, and Pueblo.

Both companies are members of the Home Care & Hospice Association of Colorado.

“I am happy to have found such a great team to lead us through this exit. Forbes really took the time to internalize our goals, which varied from shareholder to shareholder, and created a process that met the needs of all of us,” said Aaron Ellsworth, Co-Founder, and CEO of Evergreen Home Healthcare. “The Forbes team was targeted in their marketing and found a buyer that really valued what my partners and I have built, even amidst this challenging environment. We are excited to become a part of Aveanna and are eager to see them take Evergreen to the next level.”

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HHAC Will Have Members-Only Webinar At Noon On Friday, Nov. 13

The Home Care & Hospice Association of Colorado has set the next date of its members-only conference webinar for noon, Friday Nov. 13. 

Members in good standing with the association should register here to access the webinar either live or on later playback. 

The webinar will feature the HHAC lobby team Betsy Murray, Eliza Schultz, Elisabeth Rosen, and Alan Morse with updates on the Governor’s Budget proposal, election outcomes as well as a legislative Advocacy 101 training on how to connect with your legislator.

Register for the webinar