HCBS Providers Meet with DOH
(Feb. 18, 2025) Home and community-based services (HCBS) provider associations met with Mike Chittenden of the Department of Health (DOH) Division of HCBS on Feb. 18th to share concerns and obtain Departmental updates.
The Division is looking forward to Lunch and Learns for Licensed Home Care Services Agencies (LHCSAs) in March and April and will announce those presentations soon.
Regarding the 2023 Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA)/Long Term Home Health Care Program (LTHHCP) Statistical Report and 2023 Hospice Cost and Utilization Report, those reports are due on Feb. 28th, and extensions will not be allowed. Currently, a majority of agencies have still not submitted their reports.
An Integrated Health Alerting and Notification System (IHANS) message was distributed to certain LHCSAs that completed the Short Form for LHCSA Registration, but have not yet completed the LHCSA Statistical Report. DOH stated that the Statistical Report will be held open until March 20th for completion. For agencies that completed neither the Short Form nor the report, penalties will be assessed, and agencies should reach out directly to the Department.
Providers inquired about the new guidance requiring Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) training of aides and the current dismantling of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at the federal level. The Department stated that agencies should continue to work under current state guidance and regulation. Providers shared that the training requirement ensures that workers are following the basic tenets of person-centered care rather than policy relating to DEI.
Providers also shared concern regarding termination of Fiscal Intermediary (FI) contracts, especially for LHCSAs serving as FIs. Providers are concerned about continuity of care for consumers. Mr. Chittenden said that he would share the concern with the Office of Health Insurance Programs.
Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871