DOH Readies ALP Minimum Wage Survey

The Department of Health (DOH) intends to activate a survey to collect data regarding minimum wage spending for Assisted Living Programs (ALPs). The survey will focus on collecting actual allowable spending to ensure that Medicaid rate add-ons were based on actual, provider-specific minimum wage costs for 2020 and 2021. Allowable minimum wage spending is limited to dollars required to increase hourly wages to the minimum wage, but only for those workers whose wages need to be increased at the start of each year to meet the new minimum. It also includes increases of wage-sensitive benefits driven by the minimum wage.

Although no firm date has been provided, DOH hopes to make the survey available shortly, which associations asked be due no sooner than 30 days after issuance. The survey will be the same one used to gather data for reconciling 2017-2019 minimum wage funding, and we have asked that the Department provide associations an opportunity to review the form prior to its posting. Members will recall that the reconciliation of the minimum wage add-ons for 2017 through 2019 was a complex process that required corrections and generated potential recoupments that continue to be on hold. We will let members know when survey dates are known.

Contact: Diane Darbyshire, ddarbyshire@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8828 or Darius Kirstein, dkirstein@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8841