DOH Provides Important Clarification Regarding EQUAL Funds Application
Members are reminded that applications for Enhancing the Quality of Adult Living (EQUAL) Program funding for adult care facilities (ACFs) that serve recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the State Supplement Program (SSP), and Medicaid are due Nov. 19th.
A member raised concern regarding Section E in the application regarding certification of the prior year's funding. We raised this issue with the Department of Health (DOH), given that many providers have not yet expended funds due to the late issuance of the application and the process by which providers needed to revise and obtain approval for expenditure plans. Section E states:
CERTIFICATION STATEMENT FOR USE OF EQUAL 2019-2020 FUNDS
I certify that Attachment A (Payment and Expenditure Tracking Form/Corresponding Receipts) and Attachment B (Program Certification Page) of previous years' EQUAL Funds have been completed and submitted to the Department?
In response to our inquiry, DOH provided the following clarification:
"While it is expected that facilities submit Certifications to the Department upon disbursement of all EQUAL funds with a PDF copy of all applicable receipts no later than twelve months (one year) from date of award, for purposes of the application this Certification does not apply to open funding periods, i.e. EQUAL 2020-21."
Contact: Diane Darbyshire, ddarbyshire@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8828