Latest Development on the Home Care Uniform Billing Rate Codes
On Sept. 2nd, LeadingAge NY and other home care associations participated in a conference call with the Department of Health (DOH) on the long-awaited release of the home care uniform billing rates codes under Medicaid managed care. DOH anticipates releasing the rate codes to home care providers and managed care plans within the week and expects full implementation by the end of the year.
The uniform billing rate codes have been under development for well over a year as a result of advocacy during the Home and Community-Based Care workgroup meetings which resulted in legislation in 2015 and passed in the 2015 final budget. Most home care agencies have multiple contracts with managed care plans which entailed multiple sets of codes and modifiers. Developing and implementing uniform billing rate codes, along with electronic payment of claims via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), were to be fully implemented by January 2016. During this last year, home care associations, the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program association, and the Adult Day Health Care Council have worked with DOH and managed care plans to come to agreement on uniform billing rate codes. In addition to the codes, the associations developed modifiers and definitions of the home care services. Included in the codes is a placeholder for the anticipated service of the Advanced Home Health Aide.
Contact: Cheryl Udell, cudell@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871