State Launches Home Care Exchange Demonstration Program

NY State of Health recently announced that it has launched its new pilot program, NY State of Health, Care at Home, to help New Yorkers shop for safe and reliable home care services for themselves or their loved ones on a private pay basis. Members may recall LeadingAge NY's reporting on this as the Department of Health (DOH) was designing the pilot program last year. NY State of Health, Care at Home is a way for the non-Medicaid middle market to access home care professionals from licensed home care services agencies (LHCSAs). This program is a pilot in Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties and will be expanded statewide in the future. Currently, it only authorizes larger LHCSAs to offer services on the site.

The program began as a recommendation from the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) II that New York create an option, supported by NY State of Health, that would allow individuals to more easily connect to private pay home care services from LHCSAs. The Care at Home program aligns with the ease and accessibility of the marketplace, providing consumers with a resource to connect with home care professionals who meet their specific needs and are available in their area.

Home care services provided through this program are considered non-medical in nature and help people with daily living tasks and activities so they can live at home independently. Home care professionals, also known as caregivers, are employed through LHCSAs. Home care providers can help with, but are not limited to, services such as dressing, personal hygiene, toileting, laundry, cleaning, shopping, meal prep, eating, and managing medication.

The Care at Home program involves the following steps:

1. Browse. Enter a ZIP code to find agencies nearby with available home care professionals.
2. Filter. Use the available filters to find LHCSAs with home care professionals who meet your specific needs.
3. Connect. Select a LHCSA to message and connect with them.
4. Match. If needed, set up a free in-home or telehealth evaluation to ask questions and find the right home care professional for your needs.
5. Receive Home Care Services. A schedule is made, and services begin. Payment for services is made directly by the consumer to the LHCSA.

To learn more about the Care at Home program, click here.

LeadingAge NY Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-929-9342