The Department of Health (DOH) has issued a Dear Administrator Letter (DAL) announcing its issuance of a biannual Health Emergency Response Data System (HERDS) survey to determine the need for additional Licensed Home Care Services Agencies (LHCSAs) in each county. DOH is carrying this out in compliance with previously adopted LHCSA regulations that establish a need methodology for new LHCSA licenses, which presume there is no need for new LHCSAs in counties with five or more agencies. It is important that every LHCSA site submit the count of all unduplicated patients served between Jan. 1, 2022 and April 30, 2022 and the number of patients on its roster as of April 1, 2022 in each county, as this data will be used to determine the number of general purpose LHCSAs in each county for planning purposes. This HERDS survey will be available on the Health Commerce System (HCS).

LeadingAge NY will keep members abreast of movement on behalf of the Department to reopen the LHCSA licensure process.

Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871