Provides for expanded non-medical in-home services, non-institutional respite services, case management services…

• Democratic5
• Republican2

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Cordell Cleare says this is needed

The purpose of this bill is to empower local Area Agencies On Aging (AAAs) to focus more on efficient and effective delivery of services by doing two things: ending the de minimis cost sharing provisions for EISEP Programs and ending the requirement that non-medical model home care services be subject to a physician's order. REMOVE COST SHARE REQUIREMENTS All other programs supported by the New York State Office for the Aging are provided utilizing a voluntary contribution model. There is extreme- ly limited cost share that is currently and historically obtained by the AAA network for EISEP services, as the program is targeted for low-in- come individuals that cannot afford to privately pay for the services. The total cost share funding obtained by the requirement in 2023-2024 was less than $730,000, and the requirement of the AAA to conduct the cost share analysis and facilitate billing is significant. Voluntary contributions for programs provided by the AAA far exceed the mandated cost share that is collected, and it is an undo burden to the AAA. REMOVE PHYSICIAN ORDERS The AAA network provides home care services including personal care level 1 and personal care level 2. These services are a non-medical model and are predominantly provided by licensed home care providers. Although these services are non-medical, because they are provided by licensed home care agencies that are overseen by DOH, many providers are requesting physician orders to provide care. Medicaid does require a physician's order, and this should not be applicable to the AAA network as our services are a social model. The requirement for AAA's to obtain physician orders is cumbersome and results in a delay of care for indi- viduals needing services.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.