One-House Budgets Expected Next Week; Let's Make Our Advocacy Count!
The participation of every home care agency is urgently needed to make this advocacy as impactful as possible. Legislators want and need to hear from you: the individuals casting votes in their districts and taking care of the patients who do the same and employing thousands of workers.

HCANYS Releases 2024 State of the Industry Report 
This annual report brings together an analysis of Medicaid cost report data, home health and hospice statistical report data, state and federal labor statistics, and answers from home care and hospice providers and plans on the most recent financial conditions and trends survey, completed January 2024. 

HCA Advocates for Members on Change Healthcare Cybersecurity Incident 
In order to ensure that the gravity of the problem is understood, home care’s needs are recognized, and we are part of any solutions, we need information from HCA’s membership on the impact of the recent cybersecurity incident. 

A Message from HCA Vice President Patrick Conole: Join Us for the Virtual Senior Financial Managers Summit on March 13 
Attendees will get the latest news on the status and implications of the Governor’s proposed 2024-25 Executive Budget for home health and hospice as well as Fiscal Intermediaries in the Consumer Directed Program and Medicaid Long Term Care Plans (MLTCPs). HCA will also provide updates on our State and Federal Advocacy efforts on issues that impact your financial bottom lines

HCA and Hospital Association Join Forces in Congressional Advocacy 
HCA and HANYS each presented data illustrating the severe health care access challenges in hospitals and home care in NYS and making the case for Medicare funding needs. 

New Guidance Released: Total Solar Eclipse Affecting New York State, April 8th
The entire event will last around 2 ½ hours, but the travel to and throughout NYS is anticipated to have tremendous impacts on the roads and travel time.

DOH Posts 2022 Medicaid Fee-for-Service Rates for: Licensed Home Care Service Agency (LHCSA – Personal Care-PC), Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA) and Consumer Directed Personal Care Assistance Program/ Fiscal Intermediary (CDPAP–FI) Who Certified or Appealed The Rates 
The 2022 FFS rates were developed based on the data submitted in the 2020 cost reports and are all-inclusive. As noted in the DOH’s May 9, 2023, Dear Administer Letter (DAL), and May 2, 2023 webinar, the minimum wage increases, detailed on provider’s rate sheet, are captured within the rates as an add-on. These rates continue the previously enacted one percent (1%) enhancement effective April 1, 2022 and the $2.35 Statewide Home Care Minimum Wage adjustment effective October 1, 2022. 

CDC Updates COVID-19 Guidelines 
According to the CDC, the new guidance brings a unified approach to addressing risks from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV, which can cause significant health impacts and strain on hospitals and health care workers. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Update 
The recommendation acknowledges the increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19 in older adults, along with the currently available data on vaccine effectiveness.

DOH Conducts 2024-2025 MLTC Rate Development Webinar 
Last week, the State Department of Health conducted a Managed Long Term Care Rate Development webinar for the April 2024 through March 2025 rate period, in which HCA participated along with many other plans and trade associations. 

New Archive Process for Inactive UserIDs on ePACES 
A new archive process for inactive ePACES userIDs will be introduced starting on 60 days from 3/1/2024. During this process, inactive ePACES userIDs will be archived weekly after they reach 90 days old. If a userID is archived, it cannot become active again. A new userID must be created if needed. 

CMS & NGS Update: Change Healthcare Security Incident 
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and National Government Services (NGS) are aware that Change Healthcare recently suffered a cyber-attack. Change Healthcare is a clearinghouse vendor that connects providers with insurance payers and has operations that impact the submission of Medicare claims, including NGS. At this time, there is no indication that NGS’s systems have been compromised.

Final Claim Period Starts for Healthcare Worker Bonus Program 
The state Department of Health (DOH) reminds providers that the final claim period will open for submission of employee Healthcare Worker Bonus (HWB) payments on April 1, 2024 and will end on May 1, 2024. This covers employees that worked during the period October 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 and meet certain requirements. It is the last opportunity for providers to submit claims on behalf of their employees.  

DOH Posts 1115 Waiver Webinar Recording and Materials 
According to DOH, the waiver amendment will allow the State to advance health equity, reduce health disparities, support the delivery of health-related social needs (HRSN) services, and promote workforce development. This webinar outlines the key initiatives included within the waiver amendment.  

Medicaid Managed Long Term Care Transportation Carve Out Begins March 1, 2024 
Within the MLTC benefit package, many Social Adult Day Care (SADC) programs handle their own transportation either with their own vehicles or, or by contracting directly with a transportation provider. These programs will continue to manage their own transportation after the carve out and should continue to bill plans as usual. Members who have historically requested trips to SADCs through their MLTC plans or through their plan’s transportation broker will have their trips managed through MAS, effective March 1, 2024. 

Additional Veterans Eligible for VA Health Care 
On February 26, 2024, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that all Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military — at home or abroad — will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care beginning March 5, 2024.  

Integrating Social Determinants of Health Screening Tool in Home Health Care: Regional Toolkit Training 
HCA E&R & IPRO have developed a new toolkit to provide step-by-step recommendations your home health agency can take to integrate a social determinants of health screening and referral process into its workflow.  

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 to bags used to carry medical equipment or supplies into patients’ homes were among the Top 10 Home Health Deficiencies. 

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. 

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.  

Now Available! 2024 HCA Marketing Prospectus
This year, we are once again offering several opportunities, and an expanded range of benefits in several sponsorship categories. These opportunities have been designed to offer you greater flexibility to select a sponsorship package and options that best support your engagement goals. 

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

UPCOMING VIRTUAL EVENTS

How the Latest Fiscal Intermediary Proposals will Affect CDPAP
March 5, 2024
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM 

Integrating Social Determinants of Health Screening Tool in Home Health Care: Regional Toolkit Training
Every Thursday Through March 28
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Senior Financial Managers Summit
March 13, 2024
9:00 am - 3:15 pm

Enhancing Quality Improvement for Home Health Care: A 5-Part Series 
March 19, April 16, May 21 
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM 

Artificial Intelligence and Its Impacts on Emergency Preparedness for New York City Home Care Providers 
March 27, 2024 
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM 

Home Health and Hospice Tabletop Exercise to be Held in New York City
May 21, 2024
9:30 am to 12:00 pm

For more information on our upcoming education visit our education webpage.