NY A01991

Establishes a minimum wage for home care aides at no less than 150% of the applicable statewide or regional minimum wage, effective April 2, 2027

Requires the Commissioner of Health to establish regional minimum hourly base reimbursement rates for providers employing home care aides, accounting for overtime, transportation, benefits, payroll taxes, administrative costs, and capital costs

Mandates that payments to home care providers from local social services departments, managed care providers, and managed long-term care providers meet the regional minimum hourly base reimbursement rate to be considered adequate

Authorizes the State Comptroller to audit contracts between managed care organizations and home care agencies to ensure rates meet adequacy standards, with findings of insufficient rates referred to the Department of Health and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit

Directs the commissioners of taxation and finance, health, and labor to conduct a study on using an expanded state earned income tax credit to improve the home care aide workforce, with findings due by December 31, 2026