The Situation Report | December 18, 2023
The Department of Health (DOH) held an informational webinar on December 13, regarding the home care worker minimum wage increase set to take effect January 1, 2024. Slides from the webinar are available here.
The total hourly wage for home care aides in NYC, Westchester and LI will be $18.55, and rest of state (ROS) wage will be $17.55 per hour.
The benefits portion of home care aide total compensation under the state’s Wage Parity law will be $2.54 in New York City (NYC), and $1.67 in Long Island (LI) and Westchester—this is effectively a $1.55 reduction in wage parity benefits.
The rate development includes adjustments for the home care aide minimum wage and wage parity changes initiated by the Governor and Legislature in this year’s budget. DOH’s actuary incorporated these new regional average unit costs into the development of updated plan rates.
Fee for service rates will be posted soon. A webinar may be provided, per DOH.
HCA had strongly advocated for adequate rates for plans and providers at a level that allows them to meet the new wage mandates. HCA has also argued that a decrease in the non-wage portion of pay for aides under the state’s Wage Parity Law does not lessen such costs as agencies are mandated to continue such levels under existing contracts while others cannot decrease such benefits without losing staff.
HCA is continuing to advocate with the Executive and Legislature for the full and proper funding for these wage changes for workers, providers, and plans. We are relentlessly underscoring the serious and accumulating problems resulting from the state’s methods.