LeadingAge NY members providing services under the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) programs should note that there are some significant changes coming to NHTD/TBI providers via Appendix K changes approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) effective May 13, 2022. CMS approved additional changes to the previously approved Appendix K. The approved Appendix K is effective from March 1, 2020 through six months after the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19.

A June 16, 2022 Department of Health (DOH) webinar provided basic information about how to begin planning for these incentives so that providers will be able to take advantage of all available funding opportunities. This webinar was the first in a series of meetings. The slides can be found here.

New changes provided in Appendix K include:

• Workforce stability stipends for waiver direct care staff – set at $2,500 to $3,000 for direct service staff persons, with another $500 for fully vaccinated staff;
• Training stipends for waiver providers set at $300 per trainee;
• Home and Community Support Services (HCSS) nursing visit rate change – this will now be hourly and included in the TBI rate at $61.80 per hour (to expire six months after the end of the federal PHE);
• Structured Day Program (SDP) rate increase for qualified providers to accommodate environmental changes made for safety of person services (also to expire six months after the end of the federal PHE); 
• Termination of retainer payments;
• Initiative to complete needed Uniform Assessment System (UAS) reassessments by Sept. 1, 2022.

A SurveyMonkey link will be distributed to providers by the Regional Resource Development Center (RRDC). This will ascertain projected amounts needed for the workforce stability stipend and training stipend requests. Waiver providers must complete the survey.

More information will be forthcoming regarding implementation of the various provisions presented. The full content of Appendix K is available here. LeadingAge NY will keep members apprised of further developments regarding these opportunities.

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