January 29, 2024 | Volume 9, Issue No. 5

TOP STORIES:

State Budget Takes Aim at Home Care & LTC; Fails Patients, Services & Communities
The Executive budget stands in stark contrast to the Governor’s Master Plan on Aging, which currently proposes for major across-the-board increases in funding for home care combined with extensive new programmatic and policy supports.

 HCA Meets with State Department of Health 
On January 25, 2024, the Home Care Association (HCA) met with various staff from the state Department of Health (DOH) Office of Aging and Long-Term Care to discuss issues concerning home care and hospice providers. 

CMS Announces Temporary Pause in PEPPER Distribution  
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a temporary pause in the distribution of the PEPPER (Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report) and CBRs (Comparative Billing Reports) through the fall of 2024.  

CMS Issues RFI on Medicare Advantage Plans 
On January 26, 2024, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit feedback from the public on how best to enhance Medicare Advantage (MA) managed care plan data capabilities and increase public transparency. 

Now Available! New Resources on Infection Control for Home Health Care Providers
A 2022 Community Health Accreditation Partner report revealed that improper hand hygiene and protocols related bags used to carry medical equipment or supplies into patients’ homes were among the Top 10 Home Health Deficiencies. 

Introducing the Center for Home and Community Based Services 
This realignment of the Office of Aging and Long Term Care is part of the Health Department’s focus on person-centered, non-institutional care, enabling people to stay in their homes and communities, and to be able to live as independently as possible, no matter the level of support necessary to make that happen. 

Millie Ferriter Appointed To DOH’s Center for Home and Community Based Services 
HCA Board Member Millie Ferriter has been appointed to the position of Director of Quality and Surveillance within the Center for Home and Community Based Services of DOH’s Office of Aging and Long Term Care. 

National Emergency Preparedness Survey Findings Posted 
These findings are helpful to consider as agencies continue to develop and revise their emergency preparedness (EP) plans and activities for staff, patients and their families. HCA is deeply engaged in activities related to strengthening home care emergency preparedness and response efforts in New York City and throughout the entire state.  

Tap Into HCA’s Resources! 
The Home Care Association of New York State Education and Research (HCA E&R) has several free resources available for use and reference. 

Thank You For Participating in HCA's State of the Industry Survey!
The information gathered from this critical survey is used in conjunction with our overall data analysis, culminating into HCA's annual report on the financial condition of the home care, hospice, and managed long-term care plan industry in New York state.

NHTD/TBI Conflict of Interest Update 
Last week, the U.S. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) approved New York State’s protocol for Conflict of Interest (COI) implementation under the Nursing Home Transition Diversion (NHTD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) waiver programs. The timeline for implementation has not changed from the last update; the state must be compliant with the federal COI regulation on March 1, 2024. 

HHS Releases New Voluntary Performance Goals to Enhance Cybersecurity for the Health Sector 
On January 24th, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), released voluntary health care specific cybersecurity performance goals (CPGs) and a new gateway website to help Health Care and Public Health (HPH) sector organizations implement these high-impact cybersecurity practices and ease access to the plethora of cybersecurity resources HHS and other federal partners offer.

Alert Issued for Measles Cases 
Due to the recent cases, healthcare providers should be on alert for patients who have: (1) febrile rash illness and symptoms consistent with measles (e.g., cough, coryza, or conjunctivitis), and (2) have recently traveled abroad, especially to countries with ongoing measles outbreaks. Infected people are contagious from 4 days before the rash starts through 4 days afterwards. 

Dually Eligible Data Book Released 
This edition describes the dual-eligible population’s composition, service use, and spending in calendar year 2021. It also includes new data on the overlap in Medicaid and Medicare managed care enrollment. 

Invitation to Submit Proposals to Present at HCA Conferences and Events 
HCA E&R welcomes proposals from engaging presenters with expertise on topics that impact Medicare-certified, Medicaid-certified, and private duty home care providers, hospice providers and Managed Long Term Care plans. 

Opportunities for Home Care and Hospice Providers Under the Recently Released Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Funding 
The state of New York has recently released a series of statewide health care facility transformation funding opportunities for which CHHAs, LHCSAs and hospices are eligible to apply. Join Hinman Straub’s Caron O'Brien Crummey and Leanne Kontogiannis for this free presentation that will outline the key elements of each grant opportunity, timelines and other pertinent details about the application process. 

2024 Total Solar Eclipse Calls for Statewide Preparation 
The travel to and throughout NYS is anticipated to have tremendous impacts on the roads and travel time. The health care industry must be aware of how this event will impact traffic and emergency services during the eclipse. 

Winter Storm Season 2023-2024 Guidance   
DOH’s Health Alert includes information from its Winter Storm Season 2023-2024 Guidance for home care agencies, adult care facilities, hospitals, diagnostic and treatment centers, and nursing homes. 

Master Plan for Aging Survey – Deadline Extended 
Due to the recent surge in enthusiasm and overwhelming response from survey participants, DOH is extending the survey period through February 29, 2024.

Free Fit Testing Train-The-Trainer Opportunity for NYC Home Care Providers 
The in-person sessions will review how respiratory programs work and can be implemented or expanded at your facility. 

Upcoming Important Deadlines      
Stay up to date on upcoming dates/requirements that impact home care, hospices and managed long term care plans.