Advocacy on Home Care Fiscal Issues

LeadingAge New York, in partnership with other home care associations, met again with the Department of Health (DOH) in our newly scheduled monthly meetings to discuss outstanding fiscal and reimbursement issues impacting home care providers. The ongoing agenda for these meetings will include a wide variety of issues critical to home care reimbursement.  Important highlights from this most recent meeting include:

Companionship Exemption - DOH said it plans to survey managed care plans to gauge the anticipated new costs as a result of this overtime rule. We believe DOH will probably contact the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Programs – Fiscal Intermediaries (FIs) as they did in 2014 to gauge the impact to FIs again.

Quality Incentive /Vital Access Provider Pool (QIVAPP) – DOH stated IPRO will be sending a letter to about 100 home care agencies that have been identified as being eligible for the second round of QIVAPP monies. Home care agencies will be asked to attest that they in fact meet the QIVAPP requirements. IPRO might conduct a desk audit or site visit for some home care agencies. DOH stated that they will share the letter to be sent to the home care providers.

LeadingAge NY will continue to keep members posted on the outcome of these monthly DOH fiscal meetings. If you have an agenda item that you would like to see discussed for Oct.'s meeting please let me know.

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