The state Department of Health (DOH) has issued minimum wage adjustments for downstate Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA) Episodic Payment System (EPS) rates. Continue reading “DOH Issues CHHA EPS Minimum Wage Adjustments for Downstate Providers” →

A proposal requiring aide compensation at 112 percent of minimum wage is gaining steam in the state budget process. It follows and accompanies standalone state legislation, previously introduced outside the budget process, which calls for aide wages at 150 percent of minimum wage. Continue reading “Write Lawmakers Today on Home Care Wage Proposal” →

In addition to our March 9 State Advocacy Day, HCA is asking HCA members to host their own virtual advocacy meetings during the month of March to discuss this year’s state budget.

Continue reading “Take HCA’s Virtual Advocacy Challenge and Enter Our Drawing for an Amazon Gift Card” →

Register today for HCA’s Senior Financial Managers Summit, virtual edition, on March 18.

This signature program is for CFOs, Finance Managers, Executive Staff and other senior leaders at home care, hospice and MLTC organizations with responsibility for budgeting and finance.

Continue reading “Register Today: March 18 HCA Senior Financial Managers Summit” →

If you missed the 2021 Northeast Home Health Leadership Summit (NELS) in January, fourteen excellent session recordings await for you to enjoy conveniently at any time, on demand.

All content is available through February 21. See our full NELS on-demand session agenda here.

This is a great opportunity to hear from national emergency preparedness, legal and policy experts, plus peer home care executives offering strategies for pandemic response. NELS 2021 thought leaders also offer insights to help you problem solve, build a stronger workforce, and work more efficiently.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE TODAY

HCA is extending the deadline for home care providers to complete our finance and trends survey. The survey, originally due today, is now due by close of business one week from today (on January 19).

Continue reading “HCA Extends Fiscal Survey Deadline: Please Act Before January 19” →

Both houses of Congress have introduced legislation that would provide Medicare reimbursement to home health agencies that deliver audio and video telehealth services during COVID-19. This is a major priority.

Today, we ask that you use our online Legislative Action Center to write New York’s Senators and your Member of Congress to pass this critical bill. It takes less than a minute to do.

As we note in our Action Center campaign, “this technology is vital in the pandemic. It extends home care’s reach to patients who are socially isolated, anxious, and in need of more complex services, especially the growing number of patients discharged from hospitals to home care with severe post-COVID-19 care needs.”

We also cite recent HCA data collected in a survey of providers showing that the number of home health providers having to turn to telehealth in the pandemic has doubled, from 22 percent of providers before the pandemic to 46 percent today, yet there’s no Medicare reimbursement to support this service.

Thank you to all of the providers who answered this survey, which supports key advocacy messaging.

Please act on this advocacy messaging today, and urge your staff to do the same.

Please join HCA and home care labor law expert Emina Poricanin for a webinar on Monday, October 26 (at 1 p.m.) where she’ll provide an update on the state’s Paid Sick Leave law.

The state law requires employers with five or more employees to provide their employees with paid sick and safe leave. Businesses with fewer than five employees and a net income of $1 million or less must provide unpaid sick and safe leave to employees.

Poricanin will explain the law’s implications for home care providers so that your organization can develop leave policies and practices for 2021, ensuring compliance. She’ll specifically cover highlights of new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) posted earlier this week by the state Department of Labor.

Register today for an October 16 Zoom presentation to learn how your home care, hospice or MLTC organization can onboard patients/clients so they can connect to the Statewide Virtual Senior Center (VSC).

The session, from 11 a.m. to noon, will be hosted by HCA Education and Research (HCA E&R) and Selfhelp Community Services, building on an introductory webinar that we held in July.

To register for the October 16 Zoom session, just complete the online form here and HCA E&R will e-mail you a Zoom link on the morning of the program so that you can connect to the discussion.

Continue reading “Join Us on Oct. 16: Onboarding Your Patients or Clients to the Statewide Virtual Senior Center (VSC)” →

The state Senate has passed a resolution recognizing September 2020 as Sepsis Awareness Month in the State of New York.

HCA, our Stop Sepsis at Home NY screening initiative, and allied partners recognize and greatly appreciate this action initiated by the Senate’s Health Committee Chairman Senator Gustavo Rivera.

Full text of the resolution is posted to our Stop Sepsis at Home NY website here.

Our partners at Sepsis Alliance are working to achieve similar resolutions in all 50 states, and HCA is proud to be part of efforts to put New York State in that number as we work alongside other leading advocacy and awareness organizations like End Sepsis: The Legacy of Rory Staunton. Continue reading “Sepsis Month: Senate Resolution, NYSOFA PR, Plus HCR, VNSNY & Americare Features” →

In a September 3 presentation, we introduced hospitals and home care providers to the HCA-HANYS-IHA “Statewide Hospital-Home Care Collaborative for COVID-19 and Beyond.”

As part of this program, we are offering seven upcoming webinars free of charge for all hospital and home care organizations in New York State. Continue reading “Free Series: 7 Hospital-Home Care Collaboration Models for Improved Patient Care” →

Online registration is now open for HCA’s Senior Financial Managers Retreat, our signature finance program for CHHAs, LHCSAs, hospice and MLTC.

While the retreat (on September 15 & 16) was originally planned for the Mohonk Mountain Resort in New Paltz, New York, we have transitioned to a virtual live event this year that will be broadcast through Crowdcast to any location using your computer, tablet or smart phone.

Continue reading “Register: HCA’s Senior Finance Managers Retreat on Sept. 15-16” →

Continue reading “Join Sept. 3 Webinar Unveiling HCA-HANYS-IHA Care Collaboration Initiative for Home Care and Hospitals” →

HCA will be testifying today in the second of two state legislative hearings examining the impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes and other long term care settings. The hearing begins at 10 a.m.

At the first hearing — for New York City, Westchester and Long Island last week — lawmakers raised numerous questions focused on nursing home fatality rates, how the data were represented, nursing home visitation policies, and more. Continue reading “HCA to Testify Today at Legislative Hearing on COVID-19 and Long Term Care” →

Two days, ten sessions and a much-needed time for learning, reflection, collaboration and morale!  

Interactive online platform helps overcome social isolation in older adults during COVID-19 health emergency 

Join HCA Education and Research (E&R), Selfhelp Community Services and public officials on July 24 at 10:30 a.m. to see first-hand a powerful, interactive Virtual Senior Center (VSC) platform open for all home and community-based clients to enroll. Register for the webinar here.

Continue reading “A Virtual Senior Center for Your Home Care Patients: Learn More at July 24 Webinar” →

As HCA announced in our member newsletter yesterday, our grant-funded program to train home care and hospice clinicians on COVID-19 testing in the home care setting has been extended through year’s end.

Continue reading “Free Training Program on Home Care and COVID-19 Testing Extended Several Months” →

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced $15 billion in CARES Act relief funds for Medicaid providers who lost revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. HHS has clarified that home care agencies are eligible, under fee-for-service and managed care. This includes Licensed Home Care Services Agencies and Certified Home Health Agencies who meet all of the conditions.

On July 10, in two days, Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement expert Koy Dever of BKD, LLP will lead a webinar offering the latest information on eligibility criteria, navigating the application process, terms and conditions, reporting and audit requirements, as well as frequently asked questions.

Continue reading “New 7/10 Webinar: Applying for Medicaid CARES Act Financial Relief” →

On July 3, the state Department of Health (DOH) released guidance on revised protocols for home care and other health care personnel to return to work following COVID-19 exposure or infection.

Continue reading “State DOH Issues Return to Work Guidance” →

Please act today here on a new HCA Legislative Action Center campaign urging direct federal funds for New York home care providers at the front line of the COVID-19 epicenter.

As previously reported, HCA has estimated home care’s COVID-19 financial impact to be at least $200 million in New York State, a conservative estimate. We are calling on Congress to appropriate this baseline, threshold amount needed in the next aid package to stabilize New York home care providers who have, to date, received little aid relative to other settings. Much of this aid has come in the form of advance payments, loans and other financial mechanisms primarily through Medicare-funded programs but with little comprehensive support for providers of all home and community-based programs, including Medicaid services. Continue reading “Act Now on Urgent Call for Federal COVID-19 Funds to Home Care in Congress” →

What follows are the most salient COVID-19 updates for HCA members as of the week ending May 25.

This is a weekly digest of new information as well as briefs that may have already been provided to home and community-based organizations via e-mail alert throughout the past week.

To catch up on all COVID-19 updates, please see the news feed on our “home care prepare” website (here), including our resource page with COVID-19 regulatory waivers, guidance and more (here). Continue reading “COVID-19 Updates for the Week Ending May 25, 2020” →

What follows are the most salient COVID-19 updates for HCA members as of the week ending May 17.

This is a weekly digest of new information as well as briefs that may have already been provided to home and community-based organizations via e-mail alert throughout the past week.

To catch up on all COVID-19 updates, please see the news feed on our “home care prepare” website (here), including our resource page with COVID-19 regulatory waivers, guidance and more (here). Continue reading “COVID-19 Updates for the Week Ending May 17, 2020” →

What follows are the most salient COVID-19 updates for HCA members as of the week ending May 10. Continue reading “COVID-19 Updates for the Week Ending May 10, 2020” →

What follows are the most salient COVID-19 updates for HCA members as of the week ending May 3. Continue reading “COVID-19 Updates for the Week Ending May 3, 2020” →

This afternoon, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released additional regulatory relief blanket waivers for home health agencies, hospices and other providers.

Continue reading “CMS Issues More Regulatory Relief Waivers for Home Health, Hospice” →

What follows are the most salient COVID-19 updates for HCA members as of the week ending April 26.

This is a weekly digest of new updates as well as briefs that may have already been provided to home and community-based organizations via e-mail alert throughout the past week.

To catch up on all COVID-19 updates, see the news feed on our “home care prepare” website (here), including our resource page with COVID-19 regulatory waivers, guidance and more (here). Continue reading “COVID-19 Updates for the Week Ending April 26, 2020” →

What follows are the most salient COVID-19 updates for HCA members as of the week ending April 19. This is a weekly digest including updates already provided to home and community-based organizations via e-mail alert throughout the past week. To catch up on all COVID-19 updates, see the news feed on our “home care prepare” website (here), including our resource page with COVID-19 regulatory waivers, guidance and more (here).

Continue reading “COVID-19 Updates for the Week Ending April 19, 2020” →

A new Executive Order going into effect today at 8 p.m. (see here) requires that all employees of “Essential Businesses” in New York State “shall be provided and shall wear face coverings when in direct contact with customers or members of the public.”

Home care, as with other health care settings, has been defined as an “essential business” since early in the state’s emergency declaration; providers are, therefore, subject to the new requirement in the Governor’s Executive Order.

The state Department of Health (DOH) has issued a guidance for health care settings, defining “face covering” as including, but not limited to, “cloth (e.g. homemade sewn, quick cut, bandana), surgical masks, N-95 respirators, and face shields.” Continue reading “New Executive Order Requires Face Coverings” →

What follows are the most salient COVID-19 updates for HCA members as of the week ending April 12.

Continue reading “COVID-19 Updates for the Week Ending April 12, 2020” →

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has begun releasing emergency funds to health care providers today as part of the recently signed federal CARES Act.

Home care and hospice providers are included in the list of providers to receive funds. As of this morning, HCA members have already reported receiving electronic payments.

Continue reading “Providers Begin Receiving $30B in Emergency Funding from HHS, Plus Newly Suspended State Regs” →

What follows are the most salient COVID-19 updates for HCA members as of the week ending April 5. 

Continue reading “COVID-19 Updates for the Week Ending April 5, 2020” →

The state Department of Health has issued two new COVID-19 guidance documents.

One of these (dated March 31) replaces a prior guidance on protocols for personnel returning to work following COVID-19 exposure and infection (see here). It explains the conditions under which entities may allow health care personnel to return to work in the event they have been exposed to a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 or have traveled internationally.

The other is a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document on new Medicaid service and billing allowances through telehealth and telephonic means during the COVID-19 emergency (see here).

Continue reading “New Medicaid Telehealth Q&As, Plus Updated Guidance on Personnel and COVID-19 Exposure” →

Continue reading “New CMS Waivers: Incremental Telehealth Flexibility, Plus Latitude on Homebound Requirement” →

What follows are the most salient COVID-19 updates for HCA members as of the week ending March 29. 

CARES Act, NPP Authorization, and HCA’s Call for Permissive Implementation of Telehealth Provisions 

Congress passed, and the President signed, a $2 trillion coronavirus aid package. It includes a long-time priority of HCA and national organizations: allowing non-physician practitioners to order and refer for home care services. (HCA awaits further implementation information from federal administrators.)  Continue reading “Weekly COVID-19 Updates for the Week Ending March 29, 2020” →

What follows are the most salient COVID-19 updates for HCA members as of the week ending March 29.

CARES Act, NPP Authorization, and HCA’s Call for Permissive Implementation of Telehealth Provisions 

Congress passed, and the President signed, a $2 trillion coronavirus aid package. It includes a long-time priority of HCA and national organizations: allowing non-physician practitioners to order and refer for home care services. (HCA awaits further implementation information from federal administrators.) Continue reading “COVID-19 Updates for the Week Ending March 29” →

HCA last week shared with state health officials the findings of a home care provider survey on COVID-19. It uncovered that the vast majority of home and community-based providers (68%) do not have access to adequate personal protective equipment in their COVID-19 response.

Continue reading “COVID-19 Impact on Home Care by the Numbers” →

The state Department of Health (DOH) has updated its previous Medicaid Update on COVID-19 telehealth/telephonic billing and services allowances to more explicitly include home care and each discipline within home care following multiple appeals from HCA.

The new Medicaid Update, dated March 23, is here and may undergo future updates that providers should watch for. Continue reading “New COVID-19 Telehealth Guidance More Explicitly References Home Care “ →

A special edition of the state’s Medicaid Update issued last night (see here) includes a guidance broadly expanding the use of telehealth, telephonic services and other communications methods by Medicaid providers during the COVID-19 state of emergency.

Effective for dates of service after March 1, and for the duration of the state of emergency, “New York State Medicaid will reimburse telephonic assessment, monitoring, and evaluation and management services provided to members in cases where face-to-face visits may not be recommended and it is appropriate for the member to be evaluated and managed by telephone.” HCA has confirmed with DOH officials that the guidance applies to Article 36 home care providers.

Continue reading “State Medicaid Guidance Authorizes Telehealth, Telephonic Services and Billing for COVID-19 Emergency” →

Discussions have escalated in the last 24 hours on long-sought state COVID-19 guidance and assistance for home care and hospice. Throughout the weekend, HCA has again discussed with state officials a list of pressing requests for regulatory relief waivers, priority access to supplies, procedural guidance, and financial support to help providers amid the pandemic.

A just-released Dear Administrator Letter for Certified Home Health Agencies and Licensed Home Care Services Agencies (see here) provides some information on screening of patients and staff, as well as on the responsibilities of personnel in observing patients at home. It followed another guidance, sent earlier today (see here), with regulatory guidance for 1915(c) waiver programs (addressed to providers serving children and youth under the Children’s Waiver). Continue reading “COVID-19: Respond Now on Survey for Urgent DOH Assistance Request” →