Important DOH Updates for ACFs/AL
During our montly meeting with the Department of Health (DOH) last week, we received updates on a variety of initiatives regarding Adult Care Facility (ACF) and assisted living providers. We are eager to receive your input on several matters listed below.
ALP RFA: DOH reports that the opportunity to apply for Assisted Living Program (ALP) beds is in its final round of clearance and will be out soon. This will likely issue the remaining beds from the 6,000 bed expansion several years ago. Members who are considering accessing ALP beds in the future should watch for this opportunity; we are uncertain when another opportunity will arise.
EQUAL payments: DOH reports that EQUAL payments will be distributed within the next two weeks. You MUST have an SFS account to receive the funds. With this relatively new mechanism of payment, there has been confusion, with members not knowing if they have been paid. Please note that the deposit will be identified as EQUAL.
On a different note, the Executive budget proposal eliminates the EQUAL program for next year. We encourage you to participate in our Advocacy Day on Tues., Feb. 10 to urge your lawmakers to reinstate the funding. It will be helpful to share what you’ve used EQUAL funds for, and how it has benefitted the quality of life for your residents. Let us know, too, so we can bring the program to life in our advocacy efforts.
Regulatory Reform Workgroup: As we have long been discussing, DOH will be convening a regulatory reform workgroup regarding ACF, ALP and Assisted Living Residences (ALR) regulations. LeadingAge NY and our Cabinet will be working on this initiative and want to hear from you. What would you like to see reformed? Do you want to see a consolidation of all the models of care, or should they continue to be separate? What changes will help you operate in the current landscape? Let us know if you are interested in participating in this discussion or have ideas.
Criminal History Record Check (CHRC): To date, we have not heard a lot of concerns regarding the new CHRC requirement for all ACFs. DOH reports that they have received a lot of questions that have been addressed in the presentations DOH conducted for the community, and LeadingAge NY has urged that they provide a recording of the presentations as a resource. Click here for more information about CHRC, including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Please let us know if you have any concerns or questions regarding the CHRC requirement and process.
Consolidated ACF/AL Application: LeadingAge New York is very pleased that the revised, consolidated application for ACFs, ALPs and ALRs is available and being put to use. DOH will soon post FAQs regarding the application and processes. We worked very closely with DOH and other stakeholders to improve the process. Now that the community has some experience, we are eager to hear your feedback. Is it going well? Can it be improved? Please let us know. We would like to refine the product as much as possible because DOH will soon begin work to put it into the NYSCON electronic system.
During the application workgroup process, we also were successful in getting the respite process changed to become a notification process than an application. The allowed amount of respite in a 12 month period has also been expanded. A respite equivalency will soon be available for use.
Updated Forms: DOH reports that they will soon be releasing revised Daily Census and Chronological Log forms as they review and update old forms.
LeadingAge NY meets with DOH on a monthly basis. Please let us know if you have questions or issues you would like us to bring to the discussion.
Contact: Diane Darbyshire, ddarbyshire@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8828