NY A01112

Requires the Commissioner of Health to establish regional minimum hourly base reimbursement rates for providers employing home care aides by October 1st following the effective date

Regional reimbursement rates must reflect three components: direct care costs (wages, overtime, benefits, payroll taxes, workers' compensation, travel time), operational expenses (nursing supervision, quality assurance, recruitment), and administrative/general operating costs (rent, IT, HR, legal, finance)

Rates cannot fall below the current average fee-for-service county rates for level two personal care services, and must be adjusted annually to reflect labor law changes and mandates

Requires the commissioner to seek federal approval for state-directed payments through Medicaid managed care organizations; if not approved, plans must justify to the department any contracts offering rates below the regional minimum

Grants the State Comptroller authority to audit contracts between managed care organizations and home care agencies to ensure rates meet actuarial standards and comply with minimum wage requirements, with referral to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for enforcement when necessary