The home healthcare industry employs approximately 2 million people in roughly 12,000 firms nationwide. These employers are voicing concerns about proposed changes to Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime laws, which they fear will drive the cost of care.

President Barack Obama proposed the change in December to the dismay of many in the industry. While most firms already pay worker more than minimum wage - on average $8.50 an hour - they are concerned about paying workers for overtime since some provide patients with round-the-clock care.

"They're still lumped in the same category as teenage babysitters when it comes to how much they make," said President Obama. "That's just wrong."

Currently, Arizona, California, South Dakota, Ohio, Nebraska, North Dakota and the District of Columbia do not require home care employers to pay employees extra wages for their employee attendance, while they do maintain minimum wage laws.

Fifteen states have already mandated overtime benefits on top of minimum wage for the workers, including Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wisconsin and New York. 

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