{{title}}
{{byline}}
{{byline}}
Launching a new business is hard, but it is even harder when you do it without help. One of the biggest benefits of becoming a Right at Home franchise owner is the level of support you receive from Right at Home’s corporate office. With the ability to tap into the ingrained knowledge of industry experts across a variety of disciplines, Right at Home makes business ownership feel seamless.
One of the more challenging disciplines to navigate as a home care provider is the regulatory and compliance requirements at both the state and federal levels. Requirements vary from state to state, and laws are always changing and evolving. To help franchise owners stay on top of industry-wide best practices, Doug Robertson, Senior Director of Government Affairs for Right at Home, and his team do the hard, complicated work of staying up to date about compliance issues so that you don’t have to.
With over 25 years of government relations experience, Doug’s role at Right at Home is to help franchisees understand regulatory home care license requirements and compliance requirements at both the local and federal levels.
“Our team also helps franchisees pursue government contracts, receive reimbursement from state and federal governments for delivering home care, and communicate with policymakers at the state and local levels to advocate for what’s best for their clients and their businesses,” said Doug. “We also connect franchisees with the Home Care Association of America and encourage them to stay engaged with the organization.”
And for good reason; Doug has found that remaining knowledgeable about regulations within the home care industry is not just about reading articles and keeping up with new research, it’s also about building relationships with the right people.
“We participate in the Veterans Affairs (VA) Advisory Council, of which I serve as the Chair for the Home Care Association of America,” said Doug. “We communicate regularly with the leadership of the two main regulatory bodies for the VA Community Care Network–TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Optum–and it allows Right at Home to have a deep understanding of what the process entails for franchisees to get into these spaces.”
These relationships allow Right at Home to stay involved with a variety of efforts across the home care industry, stay in-the-know about industry-wide changes, and help to advance the interests of home care as a whole.
“We’re tracking diverse initiatives and requirements as they progress,” Doug said. “Especially since there are so many concessions and changes at the federal level to accommodate the growing interest in home care.”
There are a variety of government reimbursement opportunities for home care services, and Doug and his team help to educate and assist franchise owners with programs that make the most sense for their business.
“When it comes to Medicare and getting reimbursed for providing services that help with Activities of Daily Life or personal care that removes the burden from family members, there are different levels of return for franchise owners,” said Doug. “The key is balancing the effort with the return on investment. Certain efforts might not make sense for every franchisee based on requirements in their state.”
One of the more sweeping government contracts that Right at Home helps franchise owners navigate is working with the VA, which outsources its home care to the VA Community Care Network.
“We understand how the process works and are honest about how mature the waitlist is to become a VA provider,” Doug said. “We also know how referrals, billing, and claims work once you get into the network.”
With about 85% of Right at Home franchisees in the VA network, Doug would encourage newly licensed franchisees to apply for a contract with the VA Community Care Network sooner rather than later. Doug and his team want new franchisees to understand that the process takes time, and their business will likely be in a good place to start taking referrals once they get off the waitlist.
“There’s no promise of referral volume, but we put Right at Home franchisees in the best possible place to start receiving referrals once they get off the waitlist,” Doug said.
Aside from setting franchisees up for success when it comes to securing government contracts, Right at Home also provides ongoing support with other legal matters.
“We have contracts with vendors who provide ongoing services to our franchisees,” said Doug. “We have a big contract with a law firm that is well-versed in labor laws, which are rapidly changing on the federal and state levels.”
From tackling questions about sick time, overtime, vacation leave, and anything else that comes up along the way, the law firm ensures that all Right at Home franchisees remain in compliance with state and federal labor laws.
“We also work with a licensing vendor to help with the application process in the 33 states where licensing is required,” Doug said. “There can be administration or nursing requirements to meet beforehand, and our vendor makes sure franchisees have everything they need to become licensed.”
Licensing processes are laid out for prospective franchisees on Discovery Day, and once the franchise agreement is signed, they are put in touch with the licensing vendor.
“They walk them through the application process and help them fulfill any additional requirements in their state,” Doug said. “And if you are purchasing an existing franchise, there are renewal licensing requirements for the state to stay on top of who is operational and understand your capacity for taking on Medicare clients.”
While it may seem daunting, Doug is reassuring about the outcome.
“In the ten years that I’ve been doing this, we’ve never had a franchise applicant for licensure that was rejected,” Doug said. “We have a track record of success. It’s the same for the government contracts–we don’t have much of a fail rate when it comes to understanding what the government requirements are.”
Doug remains bullish on home care, feeling optimistic about the future when it comes to government contracts and reimbursements.
“It’s very scary trying to start a new venture and then deal with the implications of what the government is going to expect and require, and the challenges that come with pursuing any sort of government contract or reimbursement opportunity,” Doug said. “I can’t imagine doing that on your own.”
Luckily, with Right at Home, you never have to do that alone. Doug and his team–along with the rest of Right at Home’s corporate office–are available to educate franchisees about the industry and help to support them along the way.
“Despite the additional help franchisees receive from us, it’s imperative for owners to become advocates and remain engaged in the public sphere with policymakers about the importance of home care,” Doug said. “Policy makers need to understand the necessity for considering the rising costs of home care when they’re making decisions that have an impact on your clients, your business operations, and your ability to hire caregivers.”
If you’re ready to get involved in the home care conversation, visit our Franchise Development website to start the conversation.
Right at Home is in six countries and has over 750 operating locations providing in-home care services to allow seniors and people with disabilities to retain as much independence and dignity as possible.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Our team of experienced writers can help tell your story to our audience. Contact Us today to learn more.