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		Latest Council News The following are summaries of the recent updates sent to Council members.  GOVERNOR PATRICK RESTORES HOMEMAKER WAGE INCREASE/SALARY RESERVE On Friday, January 5th, Governor Deval Patrick made good on his promise and restored all of the funding former Governor Mitt Romney had cut from the FY07 state budget through the 9C cut process.  Through this action, Governor Patrick has added back into this year’s state budget funding for the following programs: $1 million for the Homemaker Wage and Benefit Increase $28 million for the FY07 Direct Care Workers Salary Reserve $1.2 million for the Home Care Purchased Services Account $1.5 million for the Extended Care Career Ladder Initiative (ECCLI) $155,731 for the Direct Care Worker Scholarship Program $13 million for the MassHealth Senior Care account $250,000 for the Councils on Aging $504,567 for the Enhanced Community Options Program $457,755 for the Home Care Case Management Account The Council would like to take this opportunity to send a very special thank you to all of our members that took the time to have their homemakers complete letters to their legislators urging them to support the restoration of this critical funding.  Yesterday, the Council contacted the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) and urged them to issue contract amendments to the 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) regarding the distribution of the $1 million for the FY07 Homemaker Wage and Benefit Increase as soon as possible.  Shortly before the former Governor cut this funding in November, EOEA had informed the Council that they had completed their calculations for this distribution of this funding.  At that time, they estimated that the add-on provided through this year’s Homemaker Wage and Benefit Increase would be $.18 cents.  Homemakers would receive $.15 through this rate add-on for wages and/or benefits and agencies will would $.03 for statutory costs.  The Council also contacted the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) to receive an update on the distribution of the FY07 Direct Care Worker’s Salary Reserve for homemaker contracts.  EOHHS is still working on their final distribution calculations for homemaker contracts with EOEA.  Once the final unit rate increase has been calculated, EOEA will issue a Program Instruction to the ASAP outlining the Salary Reserve rate increase and implementation procedures.  The Council will send an email alert to all members as soon as we learn more on the distribution of the funding available through both of this programs.  1/8/07 COUNCIL HONORS AIDES AT 36TH ANNUAL MEETING Over 150 home care aides, supervisors and case managers gathered in the Great Hall of the State House on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 to honor home care aides, the heart of our industry, at the Council’s 36th Annual Home Care Aide Celebration.  After a brief introduction by Council President Robert Schaeffer of Medical Resources, the event began with a humorous and engaging in-service led by Norm Bossio.  Mr. Bossio captivated the audience with his energy and enthusiasm.  He inspired all present to not lose sight of how important it is to enjoy both your life and your work. EOEA once again cosponsored our celebration and Secretary Jennifer Davis Carey shared inspiring remarks honoring the hard work and commitment of home care aides throughout the Commonwealth.   The Council’s Award Ceremony, led by Robert Schaeffer and Program Committee Chair Janey Fox, of Jewish Family and Children’s Services, began by recognizing home care aides who have worked for their agencies for 10 years or more, providing special recognition to aides who have worked for their agencies for 25 years or more.  This year’s award presenters were introduced and the following award recipients were honored: • Maria Benazzo from Best Home Care received the Effie Chalmers Waddell Home Care Aide Award presented by Assistant Secretary Perry Trilling, Executive Office of Elder Affairs • Fred Greenleaf from Partners Home Care received the Hilda LaRocca Home Health Aide Award presented by Marianne Mastrangelo, American Red Cross • Sherry Dugas from HomeCare, Inc. received the Carlene McGoldrick Kenney Award presented by Roseann Martoccia, Franklin County Home Care • Juanita Rockwell from Boston Senior Home Care received the Cathe Madden ASAP Case Manager Award presented by Kate Doyle, Alzheimer’s Association To close the Awards Ceremony, the Council was extremely honored to present the 2006 Peggy Munro Home Care Advocate Award to Representative Anne Paulsen (D-Belmont).  Representative Paulsen served as the lead sponsor for the Council’s Homemaker Wage and Benefit Increase Budget Amendment during the House budget debate last Spring. 12/21/06 DHCFP RELEASES 2007 MEDICAID HOME HEALTH RATE PROPOSAL On Friday, December 15th, the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy (DHCFP) released proposed amendments to increase the current Medicaid rates paid for home health and continuous nursing services for 2007.  These amendments propose to increase the home health aide service rate from $5.99 per 15 minutes to $6.10 per 15 minutes.  According to DHCFP, the proposed rate for home health aides is the sum of the current direct cost component, adjusted by a Geneva specific cost adjustment factor of 2.38%, and the current indirect component of the rate.  The amendments propose to increase the current rates for skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy by 4.59%.  Based on the rates proposed, the physical therapy rate would increase to $62.79 per visit, the speech therapy rate would increase to $67.00, and the occupational therapy rate would increase to $65.46 per visit.  In terms of skilled nursing, the proposal includes language which would establish new rate modifiers for skilled nursing visits made to additional members of the same household at the same time.  Under the rate proposed, certified home health agencies would receive $86.99 per visit for the first skilled nursing visit in a home and $43.50 for skilled nursing of an additional patient in the same home setting on that day.  The amendments also propose to increase the continuous skilled nursing services rates by 10.20%.  In addition, the amendments eliminate the temporary transitional adjustment added in 1997 to address the transition to the Medicare PPS system. DHCFP estimates that the aggregate annual expenditures by MassHealth will increase by $4.89 million as a result of these amendments.  DHCFP will hold a public hearing regarding this proposal on Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 10:00am at 2 Boylston Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02116.  Written comments can also be submitted by mail to DHCFP at the same address.  The Council encourages our certified members to share their feedback regarding this proposal with us in the coming weeks to help inform our comments for this hearing.  For more information, copies of the proposed regulations and hearing notice can be downloaded at www.mass.gov/dhcfp. ; 12/21/06 To learn how you can become a member and receive the most current information on home care aide services in Geneva, contact Lisa Gurgone at 617-224-4141 or [email protected].
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