LeadingAge NY Meets with DOH and Other LTC Stakeholders
(April 29, 2025) LeadingAge NY, along with other long-term care provider associations, recently met with representatives of the Department of Health's (DOH) Office of Aging and Long-Term Care (OALTC). The meetings are opportunities for the Department to provide updates and association representatives to inquire about various issues and concerns.
The following items were discussed:
HERDS Reporting: The State shared that it is working on revising the Health Electronic Response Data System (HERDS) survey for licensed home care service agencies (LHCSAs), certified home health agencies (CHHAs), and hospice to include questions that collect general geographic information on patients. The process and potential questions are still in development.
The Department also noted HERDS reporting confusion regarding the number of shots given to residents since the last survey. Facilities are reporting this incorrectly. For Question 11, providers should report only shots administered in the last week, not the total number vaccinated.
DOH Webinars: The Department is presenting a webinar on tuberculosis (TB) on April 29th regarding TB in general and 2021 guidance for home and community-based services (HCBS) and other providers which aligns the TB testing of personnel with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations. DOH may do a separate webinar for nursing homes and adult care facilities (ACFs) on this topic. There will be May and June Lunch and Learns. The June presentation will be specific to CHHAs.
Surveillance on LGBTQ Training: DOH also shared that they will start surveillance of HCBS providers regarding cultural competency training requirements for personal care assistants (PCAs) and home health aides (HHAs). As members know, certified nursing assistants, PCAs, and HHAs must complete training in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) cultural competency. Members should note this potential surveillance trend for facilities. More information on the requirement is here.
HCS Compliance Surveillance: Millie Ferriter stated that DOH will also be surveilling HCBS providers for compliance with accessing the Health Commerce System (HCS). It is their expectation that at least one person in an HCS role per agency should be accessing HCS on a daily basis for updates. Other providers should note this surveillance activity.
TBI Study: Mike Jabonaski of OALTC shared information about the NYS Coordinating Council for Alzheimer’s and a new chapter amendment regarding a traumatic brain injury (TBI) report discussed at a recent TBI Services Coordinating Council meeting. S.800, enacted in February 2025, will amend a bill which requires DOH and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) to conduct a study into the accessibility, affordability, and delivery of services to individuals with TBI. The chapter amendment will require the study to be the responsibility of the TBI Services Coordinating Council.
Master Plan for Aging: Andrew Lebwohl, in charge of the State's Master Plan for Aging (MPA), announced that the final report is expected to be released after the State budget passes. LeadingAge NY will share the report with members once published.
Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871