Audio: Listen To This Quarter's HCAC Members-Only Conference Call

Posted: Aug. 2, 2018

A playback of the July 27 members-only conference call is available for streaming here. 

Members: You must be signed in to access it. Not a member? Join us!

Topics discussed included increases in home-care reimbursement rates, the rollout of electronic visit verification in Colorado, state-mandated Adult Protective Services background checks, recent passage of a Medicaid fraud bill, the latest on the Nurse License Compact bill, health-care licensure sunset, and a looming petition deadline for a proposed health-care transparency statutory change. 

Presenters were HCAC lobbyists Eliza Schultz and Betsy Murray and HCAC Executive Director Don Knox. Dozens of agencies, including agency members of HCAC's West Slope Forum, participated live in several Q&A sessions. 

Thank you to all who listened and asked questions!

Effort To Create Colorado Hospice License Plate Seeks Your Support

Posted: July 31, 2018

HCAC's partners in organizing and presenting the annual Rocky Mountain Home Care, Home Health & Hospice Conference are running a bill in 2019 to bring a special group hospice and palliative care license plate option to adults with registered vehicles in Colorado.

HCAC counts among its members a number of providers of both home health and hospice services. The license-plate effort is led by two nonprofits, the Colorado Center for Hospice & Palliative Care (COCHPC), a 501c3 affiliate of the Hospice & Palliative Care Association of the Rockies. 

Your e-signature of support (3,000 e-signatures are needed) will result in a license plate option to raise money for provider and consumer education. If you can, please join these groups in this effort.

Sign now

As Expected, Trump Signs Bill Delaying Deadline for Electronic Visit Verification

Posted: Aug. 1, 2018

President Donald Trump late Monday officially signed off on H.R. 6042, a widely supported bill to delay the nationwide deadline for electronic visit verification (EVV) in Medicaid-reimbursed personal care services, Home Health Care News reported. 

The 21st Century Cures Act, signed into law in 2016 under the Obama Administration, originally required home care providers and state agencies to begin adopting EVV systems by Jan. 1, 2019. H.R. 6042, sponsored by Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Kentucky), pushes that deadline back to Jan. 1, 2020, the website said. 

According to the website, the bill passed through both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate without opposition. The news of H.R. 6042 becoming law comes with little surprise, as most industry stakeholders anticipated President Trump signing the bill.

Full story

NAHC's Response To EVV Delay

"While NAHC supports the use of EVV for personal care services, we also recognize that many states have not advanced the development and implementation of EVV sufficiently to ensure its intended purpose is achieved. Therefore, NAHC supported the legislation in the House and Senate."

Full statement

State Cancels Two Consecutive EVV Subcommittee Meetings, But New Dates Are Set

Posted: Aug. 1, 2018

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing subcommittees on the looming Electronic Visit Verification mandate got off to a quick start, but over the past few days, the agency canceled planned subcommittee meetings on Participant Directed Services/Family Caregiver and on Privacy.

There's good news, however. The state has set new meeting dates for those committee and future meeting dates for the two other subcommittees. 

Members: Access these meeting dates here (you must be signed in to view). Not a member? Join us!