Situation Report | June 28, 2021
The state Department of Health (DOH) says it plans to issue guidance on a policy for ‘inactive’ aides, prompting HCA to comment on the matter, joined by the New York State Association of Health Care Providers (HCP) and LeadingAge NY.
DOH’s surveyors report that some agencies are presenting rosters with ‘inactive’ aides. DOH has, in turn, raised concerns that this affects data in the Home Care Registry, where aides are listed as either active or terminated.
Our letter points to the dire shortage of aides and our strong belief that “DOH should not take any action now to set limits on how long aides can remain ‘inactive’ and when they must be terminated. Instead, we urge the Department to assist agencies to retain existing aides and attract and train new aides.”
We add: “If DOH moves forward with guidance or a Dear Administrator Letter on this issue, we ask that such document be recommendations. Agencies should be allowed discretion and flexibility to ensure an eventual return to work by aides on their rosters as there continue to be several factors contributing to the status of inactive employees.”