2026 HHAC Annual Conference

Strengthen your program's disaster preparedness and response through this focused session designed for DME providers. Learn why disaster plans are vital to your program's health and how to meet regulatory requirements. Explore various disaster types and assess their potential impact on patient care. Grain tools to build and maintain an effective emergency response team, streamline communication, and keep patients at the center of response efforts. Understand the importance of a stand-down plan and how to conduct a post-incident review to improve future preparedness. Leave equipped with actionable strategies to enhance resilience, continuity of care, and operational readiness.

Christine Merriman, Private Duty Nursing
Dr. Paul Hutchings, Long Term Home Health and Therapies
Amanda Smith, IHSS and Personal Care/Homemaker

This presentation provides a practical, regulation-based review of the most common survey questions and compliance challenges faced by Colorado home care agencies. Using real-world scenarios, it walks participants through key regulatory interpretations related to QMAP use, IHSS oversight, Start of Care requirements, documentation expectations, and telehealth limitations. The session also addresses complex operational issues, including shared location compliance, Geographic Service Area (GSA) expansions, and coordination when multiple agencies serve the same client.Attendees will learn how surveyors evaluate operational separation, clinical oversight, staff credentials, and provider communication—and how deficiencies are developed when these elements break down. The session concludes with guidance on handling mistreatment allegations, understanding background check requirements, and strengthening documentation to avoid common citation pathways.The presentation closes with an interactive “Ask a Surveyor” segment, allowing participants to apply regulatory principles to agency-specific situations and clarify compliance expectations directly.

Montessori is more than folding towels. We’ll dive into examples of Montessori for engagement, care delivery and as interventions for behavioral expressions. This will be an active session with a brief introduction to Montessori methods, then we’ll pivot into examples, break out into groups to discuss case studies, and we’ll participate in hands-on engagements

In today's ever-changing healthcare market, service quality and clinical outcomes are the primary factors impacting agency reimbursement. Quality isn't just a goal – it is essentially the currency businesses can use to attract and retain customers. With reimbursement increasingly tied to quality metrics, agencies must proactively manage and improve their quality programs to ensure fiscal stability. This session will explore how a strong quality program can protect revenue and optimize operations for increased financial stability.