S615 - Direct Care Worker Wage Passthrough/Medicaid

• Department of Health and Human Services shall provide a 15% rate increase option for personal care services under three Medicaid Clinical Coverage Policies (State Plan PCS, CAP-C, and CAP/DA).

• Providers receiving the rate increase must attest and verify they will increase wages for all direct care professionals to a minimum of $15.00 per hour, including travel time.

• Appropriates $9.3 million in state funds for fiscal year 2021-2022 and $21.85 million for 2022-2023, matched with federal funds, to implement the rate increase.

• Providers must track and report annually to the Department how they used the rate increase, including data on workforce stability, qualifications, compensation, and employment numbers.

• Department may recoup part or all of the rate increase funds from providers that fail to increase wages to $15.00 per hour or fail to report required information; direct care professionals may report wage violations for investigation.