Transitional Care Units (TCUs)

            ABSTRACT: DOH issues Dear Administrator letter on remaining slots in demonstration project.

Section 2802-a of the Public Health Law (PHL) was amended by Chapter 58 of the Laws of 2010 authorizing the Commissioner to approve an additional 13 general hospitals to operate transitional care units (TCUs) on a demonstration basis. The September 1, 2010 solicitation, by DOH, of applications resulted in the receipt of 10 applications.  On July 27^th, DOH issued a Dear Administrator letter on the TCU demonstration project and is now soliciting applications for the remaining slots.

The PHL defines“transitional care” as sub-acute care services provided to inpatients of a general hospital that no longer require acute care inpatient services, but continue to need specialized medical, nursing and other hospital ancillary services and are not yet ready for discharge. TCUs should be limited in length of stay and designed to meet and resolve patients’ specific sub-acute medical care needs.

Transitional care units, as outlined by DOH, should be limited in length of stay and designed to meet and resolve specific sub-acute medical care needs. The expected average length of stay for patients served in a TCU ranges from 5 to 20 days, following a qualifying acute care stay. TCU services will be reimbursed at the applicable Medicare per diem SNF rate.

It is noted in the DOH letter that specific State SNF requirements that may “impede” the development of TCUs or their ability to provide services may be subject to waiver at the discretion of DOH.  NYAHSA has continued to raise concerns about the demonstration project and the impact of TCUs on our members.  Click here to view the 2009 NYAHSA letter to SHRPC and here to view the 2010 joint association memo in opposition to the expansion of the TCU demonstration project. 

See the attached Dear Administrator letter that outlines additional criteria and requirements related to TCUs.

Members with questions or comments may contact Elliott Frost at 518-867-8832, or via e-mail at efrost@nyahsa.org,