Latest Update on the Home and Community-Based Care Work Group

LeadingAge NY and other associations met last week to continue clarifying areas and issues for regulatory relief with home care and managed care. Some of the areas and issues include basic contracting with managed care and home care with skilled and non-skilled services, assessments, and referrals/discharges. 

We also participated in a conference call with the Department of Health (DOH) and Home and Community-Based (HCB) Care Work Group on Fri., Oct. 10. The associations reported to DOH and to the work group on the progress of our draft matrix identifying areas for further discussion and regulatory relief. During the conference call we were updated on DOH's progress:

• On revising the State's physician order regulations from 30 to 60 days for receipt of the physician signatures;
• The status of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) response to the February 2014 work group letter; and
• The status of a regulatory update to distinguish home health services vs. public health services.

DOH shared that it may re-examine PHL Article 36 provisions as a result of the work group recommendations.

The HCB Care work group, per statute, had to submit a report in September 2014 and again by Feb. 28, 2015. We will keep members apprised of developments and encourage your feedback. 

Contact: Cheryl Udell, cudell@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871