DOH Updates 2022 ALP Minimum Wage Rates
The Department of Health (DOH) has updated the 2022 Assisted Living Program (ALP) Medicaid rates. The new rates update the minimum wage add-on based on the information programs submitted to the Department in their “standard” minimum wage surveys for 2022. This update is additive to the separate home care minimum wage add-on that was incorporated into October 2022 rates. It updates the rate for statutory minimum wage increases in those regions where the “standard” minimum wage increased from 2021 to 2022.
For ALPs located in New York City, there is no increase, since the minimum wage had already reached $15 and did not increase from 2021 to 2022. For ALPs in Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties, the minimum wage increased from $14 to $15. For ALPs located in counties other than these, the minimum wage increased from $12.50 to $13.70 from 2021 to 2022. Please note that unlike the home care minimum wage, the increase to adjust for increases in the standard minimum wage only provides funding for those hours paid at a rate that needs to be increased due to the increase in the statutory minimum wage. We anticipate that the State will make a further rate adjustment at a later date for programs located in upstate areas to reflect the $1 increase in the standard minimum wage that occurred from 2022 to 2023.
The Dear Administrator Letter (DAL) is available here, and the rate listings are here. Note that the posting provides three rate periods: Jan. 1, 2022 rates, which itemize the add-on related to the increase to the standard minimum wage from 2021 to 2022; April 1, 2022 rates, which itemize the add-on related to the 1 percent Medicaid increase; and the October 2022 rates, which itemize the add-on related to the increase in the home care minimum wage.
The funding will be in Medicaid payment cycle 2378, scheduled to be released on April 5th. Please let us know if you have questions.
Contact: Darius Kirstein, dkirstein@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8841