As members of the Home Care Association of America, we appreciate what our association does on a
regular basis to advocate for home care companies across the country. This morning we received an update from HCAOA regarding legislation to protect the federal Companionship Exemption for home care workers.
“HCAOA Member,
Tomorrow, July 11th, the Senate Appropriations Committee will take up consideration of the fiscal year 2014 spending bill for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The HCAOA requests your immediate action to support an amendment relating to the companion care exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act that will be offered tomorrow.
Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE) is planning to offer an amendment to prohibit the implementation of the proposed companionship exemption rule relating to the Fair Labor Standards Act until certain conditions are met. Specifically, the amendment would not allow federal funds to be appropriated to finalize, implement, or enforce the proposed companionship exemption rule (76 Fed. Reg. 81190) until—(1) the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services certifies to Congress that the final rule will not increase the financial burden on State Medicaid budgets; and (2) the National Council on Disability certifies to Congress that the final rule will not increase the costs of in-home care for individuals with disabilities.
As a member of the HCAOA you are specifically being contacted because one of your Senators sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee and will have a vote on the Johanns Amendment. Please use the link below to submit the message.
Thank you!
Kevin
Kevin W. Smith
Director of Operations
Home Care Association of America
Click the link below to log in and send your message:
https://www.votervoice.net”
While it may be too late for you to take action on this immediate request, we want you to be aware of what the companionship exemption is, and what our national association is doing to look our for our members, the clients of those member companies, and the state Medicaid programs that will bear the increased costs of removing the exemption.
Thanks, Kevin and the HCAOA team for all you do.
