NHTD/TBI Waiver Program Sets Forth Appendix K Bonus Process and Rate Updates
The State’s Nursing Home Transition and Diversion and Traumatic Brain Injury (NHTD/TBI) program this week set forth the process for waiver program providers to apply for workforce stability and training stipends for their workers. They also provided details on updates to the Home and Community Support Services (HCSS) nursing visit rate and a social day rate. Their Aug. 24th webinar slides are available here.
The workforce stability stipend will apply to a number of different roles in the NHTD/TBI waivers. This bonus program is different from the general health care workforce bonus program being offered by New York State. The due date for submission for stipends is Sept. 6th.
The stipends will be in the amount of:
- $2,500 for each direct service staff person hired on or after April 1, 2021, employed, and providing direct services for 30 days or more throughout the Public Health Emergency (PHE) and/or Appendix K period.
- $3,000 for each direct service staff member hired prior to April 1, 2021, employed, and providing direct services to waiver participants for 30 days or more during the PHE and/or Appendix K period.
Staff who qualify for either of the stipends will receive an additional $500 if they are fully vaccinated.
There will be training stipends available for providers who may submit requests for a portion of training costs:
- up to $350 per trainee for each personal care aide (PCA) direct care staff providing waiver services;
- $100 for each staff person trained on NHTD/TBI waiver services and assigned to a TBI/NHTD caseload.
The workforce stability and training stipend request forms can be found here.
Each stipend request will also require additional documentation. Requests may not include projected staff – only those currently or previously employed. All requests must be accompanied by a plan detailing how all funds will be distributed directly to staff and how and what the intended dates for disbursement are. If a provider chooses to use an internal pool account, the disbursement plan must also include how the pool is to be maintained, utilized, and how disbursement to employees will occur.
The waiver team also presented new rate updates for HCSS nursing services and day habilitation. Until six months after the federal PHE ends, the HCSS nursing rate will be set at $81.60 and structured day programs will receive $10 more per day per participant. Please see the PowerPoint slides for coding and rate details.
Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871