LeadingAge NY Testifies on LHCSA Need Methodology

LeadingAge NY testified before the New York State Public Health and Health Planning Council last week on New York’s work to establish a public need review when authorizing new Licensed Home Care Services Agencies (LHCSAs). The 2018-19 State Budget established a moratorium on granting new licenses and changes in ownership for LHCSAs and requires a need methodology to be established by April 1, 2020. An overview document was issued by the Department of Health (DOH) which lays out the issues and includes public comment provided in response to DOH’s Request for Information (RFI) on the subject last fall.

LeadingAge NY made the following points in its testimony to the Council:

• Support for a requirement that new LHCSAs seeking licensure develop a workforce development plan;
• Support relaxed need review for existing LHCSAs seeking to expand into new areas;
• Support flexibility in definition of planning areas to address pockets of unmet need;
• Oppose need review for change of ownership;
• Oppose need review for addition of services and branches to license;
• Support exemption of need review for Assisted Living Program (ALP) LHCSAs and LHCSAs associated with Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) serving their own residents or contract-holders; and
• Request that DOH establish a stakeholder workgroup to assist in developing the review process. 

We provided more extensive comment on DOH's RFI with the help of our member workgroup and the Home Care Association of New York State last fall. You can read that document here. LeadingAge NY will be engaged as this process moves forward. We encourage members to contact us with their questions and concerns so we can provide informed input to the Department.

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