<![CDATA[Alpine Homecare, LLC - Alpine Homecare Blog]]>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 05:49:13 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Joint Budget Committee announces 2% rate cut and caregiver soft cap]]>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 04:29:04 GMThttps://www.alpinehomecare.com/alpine-homecare-blog/joint-budget-committee-announces-2-rate-cut-and-caregiver-soft-capIn its meeting on 03/31/26, Colorado's Joint Budget Committee announced the following measures impacting the home care industry to combat Medicaid spending growth and the impacts of HR 1:

1) Across-the-Board Reimbursement Rate Cut: (new)
A 2% across-the-board rate cut for all Medicaid providers, effective 7/1/2026. This is on top of the 1.6% take-back from October 2025.

2) Soft Cap on Caregiver Weekly Hours: (new)
A soft cap on caregiver maximum weekly hours of 84 hours starting 7/1/2026, dropping to 70 hours as of 01/01/2027 and finally reaching 56 hours per week (per Medicaid member) on 7/1/2027. There will be an exemption process defined for caregivers that require more hours.

3) Soft Caps on Services: 
The previously announced caps on Personal Care, Homemaker and Health Maintenance Activities (HMA) that will limit annual utilization to 19,000 units for HMA (about 13 hours per day), 10,000 units for Personal Care (about 6.8 hours per day) and 4,500 units for Homemaker (about 3 hours per day).

These changes will likely start go into effect 04/01/2026. Case management will have until 11/30/2026 to ensure that all PARs are within these limits. There will be an exception process for high acuity clients who have a demonstrated need for services above these caps. 

4) Legally Responsible Homemaker: As also previously announced, Legally Responsible Homemaker services will be reduced to a max of 5 hours per week (from 10 hours) per legally responsible person per Medicaid client.

The above measures will undoubtedly present very significant challenges to clients, caregivers and providers alike. Alpine Homecare reiterates its commitment to the following:
- We will do our utmost to help and guide our clients and caregivers through the changes caused by these measures.
- We will be working with our clients and caregivers to minimize any negative impact from complying with these new service/caregiving restrictions.
- We will continue to advocate on behalf of our clients and caregivers.
- We will continue to provide the best service possible to our clients.
​Please contact Alpine at 303 309 6202 for additional information or any questions on this. ]]><![CDATA[Alpine introduces new EVV System on 04/04/2026 - IMPORTANT PLEASE READ]]>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:49:57 GMThttps://www.alpinehomecare.com/alpine-homecare-blog/alpine-introduces-new-evv-system-on-04042026-important-please-readIMPORTANT! – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY! – SERIOUSLY – DON’T IGNORE THIS MESSAGE!

Dear Alpine Caregivers,

We have some exciting news! On Saturday, April 4, 2026, Alpine will be switching to a new and improved EVV (Electronic Visit Verification) system called AlayaCare. We believe this upgrade will make your work easier and more streamlined. Please read the information below carefully so you know exactly what to expect.

What does that mean for Caregivers:

1. If you are a Live-in caregiver: No changes. Just continue to do what you are doing. However, at a later stage you might notice a different look of our timesheets and you will also be able to fill out these new timesheets online (optional) and get them signed later  by the client and yourself.  

2. If you are a telephony user: Starting Saturday, April 4th, 2026 you will start dialing Alpine’s new telephony number: 720 223 1375 to clock in/out. During the clock-out process for telephony you will now be able to check off the service tasks you performed during the visit and they will automatically fill out a timesheet that can later be signed by the client and yourself (Option 1). If you do not want to check off service tasks during the clock out process (Option 2), you can simply hang up after your clock out has been recorded and continue to fill out a paper timesheet by hand as before.
 
3. If you are a mobile app user: Go to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, depending on your phone, or scan the QR-code below and download the AlayaCare App:
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Once downloaded, you will be prompted to enter your Server name:
alpine.alayacare.com (You will only need to enter this once upon your first initial login)  
Enter your email address (as on record with Alpine) and click Forgot Password, to set up a new password. If you are not sure what these details are, please reach out to Alpine at 303 309 6202.  

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Once you are logged in, you will be able to clock in/out and check off service tasks and collect a client’s signature with the mobile app. You will not need to fill out a separate paper timesheet.  

Please note that if you use the OLD telephony number or the OLD mobile app after April 3, 2026, your clock-in/out will NOT BE RECORDED, even if you receive system confirmation.

Additionally, Alpine strongly recommends that all caregivers download the AlayaCare App, even if they are not using it for Clocking in/out, since Alpine is going to be using the app for caregiver communications, shift offers and the signing and filling out of caregiver-related forms.

Questions? We Are Here to Help!
If you have any questions or run into trouble downloading or setting up the app, please do not hesitate to reach out. We want to make this transition as smooth as possible for everyone!

                              Call Alpine Homecare: 303-309-6202
           Thank you for all that you do. We appreciate each and every one of you!
                                   The Alpine Homecare Team 

For additional EVV info click here: https://www.alpinehomecare.com/evv.html​
For caregiver FAQs click here: https://www.alpinehomecare.com/evv-caregiver-faqs.html​
For instructions videos click here: ​https://www.alpinehomecare.com/evv-instruction-videos.html

]]><![CDATA[Alpine pays out 401 (k) Employer Match of up to 2%]]>Sun, 08 Mar 2026 21:52:27 GMThttps://www.alpinehomecare.com/alpine-homecare-blog/alpine-pays-out-401-k-employer-match-of-up-to-2
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Dear Alpine Caregivers,

This is just a friendly heads-up that all Alpine caregivers that are enrolled in Alpine's 401 (k) program (and are either still employed with Alpine or worked at least 500 hours in 2025) will be receiving their Employer match payment directly into their 401 (k) account with Nationwide.

The Employer Match was processed with the 03/06/2026 payroll and should be received within the next couple of weeks. Alpine is paying 0.25% for each 1% contribution, up to a maximum of 2% of annual contributions.

If you are interested in saving for your retirement call Alpine during regular office hours at 303 309 6202.

Thank you for all your hard work and dedication!!!

​Alpine Homecare, LLC

]]><![CDATA[Alpine announces Employee of the Month Winners for January 2026!]]>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 20:55:41 GMThttps://www.alpinehomecare.com/alpine-homecare-blog/alpine-announces-employee-of-the-month-winners-for-january-2026
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For outstanding service to our clients, Alpine Homecare is pleased to announce the following Employee of the Month winners for January 2026!

]]><![CDATA[Direct Care Worker Tax Credit]]>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:59:20 GMThttps://www.alpinehomecare.com/alpine-homecare-blog/direct-care-worker-tax-credit
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Dear Alpine Caregivers,

We wanted to remind you / make you aware that starting in the 2025 tax year (filing in 2026), Colorado offers a refundable $1,200-$2,400 state income tax credit (HB24-1312) for qualifying direct care workers in home and community-based settings, and certain child care workers. Workers must meet income limits ($75k single/$100k joint) and work at least 720 hours.
Alpine has reported your care hours for 2025 to the State and you should apply for this credit with your annual tax filing!  

Please see below attached document for more information.

direct_care_worker_tax_credit-january_2026.pdf
File Size: 147 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[HCPF announces difficult measures to combat Medicaid spending]]>Sat, 17 Jan 2026 01:22:37 GMThttps://www.alpinehomecare.com/alpine-homecare-blog/hcpf-announces-difficult-measures-to-combat-medicaid-spendingIn light of H.R. 1 and the difficult Colorado budget situation in 2026 and beyond, HCPF and the Governor's office have announced a number of measures to combat the strong increase in Medicaid spending that the State has experienced over the past number of years. These measures directly impact all home care services, clients, caregivers and providers:

1) Soft Caps on Services: 
HCPF intends to implement a cap on Personal Care, Homemaker and Health Maintenance Activities (HMA) that will limit annual utilization to 19,000 units for HMA (about 13 hours per day), 10,000 units for Personal Care (about 6.8 hours per day) and 4,500 units for Homemaker (about 3 hours per day).

These changes will likely start to be effective 04/01/2026. Case management will have until 11/30/2026 to ensure that all PARs are within these limits.

There will be an exception process for high acuity clients who have a demonstrated need for services above these caps. 

2) Hard Cap on Caregiver Hours: No caregiver will be allowed to provide services in excess of 56 hours per week (per Medicaid member). In addition, the current caregiver limit of no more than 16 hours of service provision within a 24 hour period, implemented with CFC on July 1, 2025, remains in place.

3) Legally Responsible Homemaker: Legally Responsible Homemaker services will be reduced to 5 hours per week (from 10 hours) per legally responsible person per Medicaid client.

4) Across the board reimbursement rate reduction: In addition, the Governor's Office has announced an additional 0.75% rate reduction for all Colorado Medicaid providers.

The above measures will undoubtedly present very significant challenges to clients, caregiver and providers alike. Alpine Homecare promises to do the following:
- We will do our utmost to help and guide our clients and caregivers through the changes caused by these measures.
- We will continue to advocate on behalf of our clients and caregivers.
- We will continue to provide the best service possible to our clients.

​Alpine Homecare, LLC

Please do not hesitate to reach out to Alpine at 303 309 6202 for more information.]]><![CDATA[Alpine announces Employee of the Year for 2025!]]>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 23:40:13 GMThttps://www.alpinehomecare.com/alpine-homecare-blog/alpine-announces-employee-of-the-year-2025Alpine Homecare is pleased to announce the winner of its 
Employee of the Year 2025 Award. 
​
The Employee of the Year Award is granted in grateful appreciation of the winner's outstanding service to our clients and is rewarded with a $500.00 bonus payment. 
​
     Alpine's winner of the 2025 Employee of the Year Award is 
​Ruel H.
​
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IN GRATEFUL APPRECIATION OF YOUR FANTASTIC SERVICE!    
WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE YOU AS AN EMPLOYEE!
   THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMPASSIONATE, CARING & PROFESSIONAL APPROACH!

]]><![CDATA[Alpine announces Employee of the Month Winners for December 2025!]]>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 23:33:19 GMThttps://www.alpinehomecare.com/alpine-homecare-blog/alpine-announces-employee-of-the-month-winners-for-december-2025
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For outstanding service to our clients, Alpine Homecare is pleased to announce the following Employee of the Month winners for December 2025!

]]><![CDATA[Alpine announces Employee of the Month Winners for November 2025!]]>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 02:10:25 GMThttps://www.alpinehomecare.com/alpine-homecare-blog/alpine-announces-employee-of-the-month-winners-for-november-2025
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For outstanding service to our clients, Alpine Homecare is pleased to announce the following Employee of the Month winners for November 2025!

]]><![CDATA[Further Update on IRS Caregiver Live-in Exemption (IRS Notice 2014-7) under CFC:]]>Tue, 16 Dec 2025 05:18:12 GMThttps://www.alpinehomecare.com/alpine-homecare-blog/further-update-on-irs-caregiver-live-in-exemption-irs-notice-2014-7-under-cfcWhat is the IRS Caregiver Live-in Exemption?
IRS Notice 2014-7 states that certain caregiver income (so-called Difficulty of Care Payments) that is received for caring for a client that is receiving services under a Medicaid HCBS waiver is not subject to Federal and State income taxes, if the client and caregiver reside in the same residence.

Does Alpine allow Caregiver to take advantage of IRS 2014-7?
Yes, Alpine has allowed its caregivers for over a decade now to claim the Difficulty of Care / IRS Live-in Caregiver exemption and, if they so chose, has not withheld Federal or State income tax from their paychecks. 

Will the IRS Caregiver Live-in Exemption still be valid under CFC?
HCPF has requested confirmation (via a private letter ruling) from the IRS regarding the applicability of IRS 2014-7 under Community First Choice (CFC), as technically CFC is not a waiver service, but a State Medicaid plan. The expectation is that it will be possible to claim this exemption under CFC as well. 

UPDATE AS OF 12/15/2025: HCPF received a favorable decision from the IRS on this request on December 12, 2025. The IRS indicated that payments for select CFC services to live-in caregivers can be considered Difficulty of Care payments that are excludable from federal income tax under § 131 of the Internal Revenue Code. 

The IRS private letter ruling for Colorado confirms that IRS notice 2014-7 (Difficulty of Care Payments) is applicable to services under the Community First Choice program.

Alpine will therefore continue to allow its caregivers to take advantage of this exemption and will continue to not withhold any State or Federal income taxes from Alpine Live-in caregivers who choose to take advantage of the exemption.

Please do not hesitate to contact Alpine at 303 309 6202 if you have any more questions about Difficulty of Care Payments under CFC or would like to claim the IRS Caregiver Live-in Exemption.

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