LTHHCP Policy Change

ABSTRACT: LTHHCP providers may exceed capacity by 25% or 100 slots.

A Dear Administrator letter (DAL) from the Department of Health (DOH) has been issued notifying a policy change to the Long Term Home Health Care Program (LTHHCP). Effective immediately, the Department will allow LTHHCP providers to exceed their approved capacity in a specific county by 25% or 100 additional slots, whichever is less. Programs may expand once capacity in that county has been met and prior to State Hospital Review Planning Council approval. Once the approved capacity has been exceeded, providers are required to submit a Certificate of Need application requesting additional capacity in that county within 90 days.

The Department is also reviewing the methodology to determine when additional capacity is needed in a county. The current methodology indicates that there is need for additional capacity when the cumulative occupancy rate is 85% or more of the approved capacity in a specific county.

For your convenience, the DAL is attached to this memo.

If you have questions regarding this policy change, please contact Linda Rush at (518) 408-1629.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the contents of this memo, contact Anne Hill at 518-449-2707, ext. 141, or at ahill@nyahsa.org.

Attachments

N:\NYAHSA\Policy\ahill\LTHHCP\10.7.09 DAL LTHHCP policy change.docx