Wage Parity Attestation Webinar to Be Held May 26th

On May 11, 2021, the Department of Health (DOH) published updated Wage Parity Compliance and Certification guidance pursuant to last year’s State Budget provisions which ensure pass-through of wage parity funds to workers. Updated certification forms must be annually submitted to DOH by Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MMCOs) and Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) plans, certified home health agencies (CHHAs), long term home health care programs (LTHHCPs), licensed home care services agencies (LHCSAs), and Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) fiscal intermediaries (FIs). Members are reminded that this requirement is for Westchester, Long Island, and New York City providers only.

Guidance for the compliance and certification requirement is posted on the DOH Wage Parity webpage here and also as MLTC Policy 21.03 on the MLTC Policy webpage. (Note that DOH subsequently issued MLTC Policy 21.03a clarifying that the certifications that managed care organizations submit may appropriately continue to rely on sub-certifications issued by, or other information collected from, contracted providers and that such certification need not be based on personal knowledge as to whether the compensation paid by contracted providers to their employees is compliant.)

By June 1, 2021 and annually thereafter, forms must be submitted electronically through the eMedNY Provider Portal. Instructions for completing the form are provided in the guidance mentioned above. The guidance also outlines updated Department of Labor (DOL) forms and policies regarding wage parity enforcement as well as new penalties for non-compliance.

To assist with the upcoming Annual Wage Parity Attestation required by Section 3614-c of the Public Health Law, the DOH eMedNY staff will be conducting a training webinar on May 26, 2021 at 10 a.m. To register, click here.

For a link to eMedNY for the step-by-step attestation process, click here.

Agencies and plans with extenuating circumstances may ask permission from DOH for late submission of their attestations by emailing hcworkerparity@health.ny.gov. Questions on the guidance may also be sent to this email address.

Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-929-9342