Proposed Bills to Address the Home Care Workforce Crisis
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice and the Home Care Association of America released a joint report in March. The report focused on the home care workforce crisis. Both groups are now watching proposed legislation that could help solve the problem.
At a webinar earlier this month, HCAOA CEO Vicki Hoak highlighted proposed legislation that the two groups are working on that would have major implications for direct care workers. The bills in question are the HCBS Access Act, Better Care Better Jobs Act, Homecare for Seniors Act and the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act.
As a hopeful sign, the needs of the home care workforce have caught the attention of President Biden, who in April issued an executive order to expand access to home care.
“Never before have we seen a sitting president talk about home care, not only in the State of the Union address, but in many public venues,” Hoak said. “This is just indicative of Congress and even state legislatures responding to the needs of their constituents.”
Legislative Efforts to Address the Home Care Workforce Crisis
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice and the Home Care Association of America released a joint report in March. The report highlights the growing home care workforce crisis. Both organizations are now monitoring several proposed bills that aim to address the issue.
At a webinar earlier this month, HCAOA CEO Vicki Hoak highlighted proposed legislation that the two groups are working on that would have major implications for direct care workers. The bills in question are the HCBS Access Act, Better Care Better Jobs Act, Homecare for Seniors Act and the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act. As a hopeful sign, the needs of the home care workforce have caught the attention of President Biden, who in April issued an executive order to expand access to home care.
“Never before have we seen a sitting president talk about home care, not only in the State of the Union address, but in many public venues,” Hoak said. “This is just indicative of Congress and even state legislatures responding to the needs of their constituents.”
Challenges Facing the Home Care Workforce
During the webinar, Hoak and NAHC Executive Director Kristen Wheeler discussed solutions to the workforce shortage. Their report recommends simplifying the onboarding process for direct care workers. It also suggests pilot loan-forgiveness programs for nurses at multiple levels.
Hoak emphasized that the country is facing a long-term care crisis. She said home care is one of the most important solutions to that challenge.
“We all know that we’re in a long-term care crisis in this country, and we know that home care is one of the main solutions,” Hoak said.
Transcend Strategy Group President and CEO Stephanie Johnston also spoke during the webinar. She discussed the challenges facing the direct care workforce.
“We’re facing double headwinds as an industry,” Johnston said. “There is a shortage of people available to work. We also face serious perception challenges about these caregiving roles.”
Johnston referenced a 2022 survey conducted by Transcend Strategy Group in collaboration with NAHC. The survey found that about one-third of healthcare workers would consider a career in home care.
However, fewer professionals today express strong interest in working in home-based care.
“When we survey the clinical care workforce, we hear the same concern,” Johnston said. “Fewer people are expressing clear interest in careers in home care.”
