“At a time when long term care providers and programs are overburdened by a crushing global health crisis, the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) moved forward today on recommendations that disproportionately impair these safety-net services through yet-further across-the-board cuts and program restrictions.”
“The COVID-19 crisis has impaired home care’s workforce capabilities, created new vulnerabilities for patients at home, and brought enormous, unprecedented stresses on the entire health care support system.”
“Right now, our data shows that home care providers are serving at least 14,000 level I patients at home, defined as those in need of uninterrupted care. Out of all 900,000 patients in New York’s home care system, these are individuals who would otherwise require care in a hospital or nursing home because they are technology dependent or severely ill.”
“We know that time is short to pass a state budget. But that is no reason to advance these proposals heedless of the consequences.”
“We call on the Legislature to: look hard at MRT recommendations for which cost savings are disputable at the levels assigned; consider alternative cost-savings measures advanced by HCA but declined by the MRT; and explore new revenue opportunities from federal aid and other sources to better realign an impact that otherwise would be borne disproportionately by the long term care sector.”
HCA is a statewide health organization comprised of nearly 400 member providers and organizations delivering home and community-based care to several hundred thousand New Yorkers annually. HCA works to support providers in the delivery of high quality, cost-effective home and community-based care for the state’s citizens. HCA providers include hospitals, nursing homes, free-standing agencies and health systems which operate Certified Home Health Agencies, Licensed Home Care Services Agencies, Managed Long Term Care Plans, Hospices, Long Term Home Health Care Programs, waiver programs, and an array of allied, supportive services entities.
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Contact: Roger L. Noyes (518) 275-6961 cell
rnoyes@hcanys.org