Three Home Care Dear Administrator Letters (DALs) Just Released

The first Dear Administrator Letter (DAL) clarifies DAL HCBS 13-03 and revises the Home Health Aid Training Program (HHATP) Supervised Practical Training (SPT) requirements for Personal Care Aides (PCAs) upgrading to Home Health Aides (HHAs). One critical piece of information from the DAL specifies that only those individuals who have been employed as PCAs and have experience providing personal care services in patients’ homes may be enrolled in an upgrade program where the supervised practical training only occurs in a skilled laboratory setting.

The second DAL amends certain requirements for conducting instruction in a foreign language included in the Guide to Operation of a Home Health Aide Training Program issued on Jan. 20, 2012 (DAL HCBS 12-01) and clarification issued on Feb. 20, 2013 (DAL HCBS 13-03). DOH issue these amendments in response to the lack of available published textbook(s) and associated written tests in languages other than English. The changes are effective immediately. Please also note the November 2013 deadlines to be fully compliant and the materials that need to be submitted to the Regional Office by October 2013.

The third DAL covers new rules for implementing an Electronic Plan of Correction (ePOC) for all CHHAs, Hospices and LHCSAs. This will automate the distribution of Statements of Deficiency (SODs) to home care providers and the receipt of Plans of Correction (POCs) from home care providers. This ePOC application will ultimately eliminate the sending of hard copy SODs and POCs by surface mail, streamlining the communications between the Department and providers.  This will be piloted with selected agencies in August. All CHHAs and Hospices will be required to use ePOC starting September and LHCSAs in October 2013.

Contact: Cheryl Udell, cudell@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871