LeadingAge New York State Budget Review April 2017 | Page 17

Wage Parity for CDPAS Workers
The enacted State Budget includes Consumer Directed Personal Assistant Services workers under provisions of the Wage Parity Law that currently governs wages for personal care workers in New York City as well as Westchester , Nassau and Suffolk counties . Please see the Home Care section for complete information about this provision .
Authority for CDPAS Fiscal Intermediaries
The enacted State Budget defines the scope of responsibilities for fiscal intermediaries and requires that they apply and receive authorization from DOH to operate . It also prohibits managed long term care plans from operating as a fiscal intermediary .
MLTC Enrollment Assessment
The enacted budget adds “ cognitive ” to the items that a managed long term care plan must evaluate as part of a prospective member ’ s enrollment assessment . Current language requires the assessment to evaluate medical , social and environmental needs .
Administrative Provisions
The final budget agreement includes the following administrative proposals and their related savings estimates . These are not reflected in statutory language because they are being implemented through DOH administrative authority .
MLTC Marketing Ban
This administrative provision prohibits marketing and advertising activities for Single-Capitated MLTC plans . The stated goal is to stabilize the sharp growth of MLTC enrollment with savings accruing from a projected slow-down in enrollment . The State has attributed a $ 6 million all funds savings to this action in SFY 2017-18 , growing to $ 24 million in SFY 2018-19 .
MLTC Fining Mechanism
This administrative provision authorizes DOH to assess fines against MLTC plans to address issues that arise out of surveillance , UAS errors and infractions , contract violations and other identified areas of concern . DOH has stated that the fines would be aimed to address repeated , egregious violations and would become effective on Dec . 1 , 2017 . The State has attributed a $ 2 million all funds savings to this action in SFY 2017-18 , and $ 2.5 million in SFY 2018-19 .
MLTC Quality Payment Reduction
This administrative provision will reduce MLTC quality payments by $ 30 million annually from $ 150 to $ 120 million . Because the quality payments do not represent additional funds but are funded through a premium withhold , the provision represents a $ 30 million funding cut ( i . e ., the State will withhold $ 150 million in premiums but only pay out $ 120 million in quality payments ). DOH is exploring implementing the cut by focusing the impact on lower performing quality tiers . The State has attributed an annual $ 30 million all funds savings to this action in SFY 2017-18 and SFY 2018-19 .
LeadingAge New York / April 2017 Page 16