NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ASKS LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO INVEST IN HOME CARE
April 1, 2021 - President/CEO of the New York State Association of Health Care Providers, Kathy Febraio sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Stewart Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie today requesting investment and prioritization of home care in our State.
President Biden stated earlier this week “we need to create jobs and raise wages and benefits for essential home care workers. These workers—the majority of whom are women of color–have been underpaid and undervalued for too long.”
Kathy Febraio said, “there is a crisis in the state’s home care industry—the same industry that keeps our most vulnerable citizens safe and out of risky and costly care settings.”
The Association is requesting an “Aid Package for Home Care Agencies” that will fully fund agencies to support wage increases or hazard pay for workers and the wage related costs for providers, pay for PPE, provide bonuses for nurses and coordinators, address the costs of overtime, sick pay, transportation costs, and increase in unemployment insurance and workers compensation costs.
In addition, the Association requests a repeal of the Public Health Law Section 3605-c authorizing the Department of Health to conduct a bidding process for Licensed Home Care Services Agencies, which is designed to eliminate home care agencies across the State.
Now more than ever, families in New York should be able to care for their family members at home. This requires adequate funding and prioritizing the selfless home care workers that cared for the most vulnerable New Yorkers at the height of the pandemic.
About New York State Association of Health Care Providers
The New York State Association of Health Care Providers, Inc. (HCP) is a statewide trade association representing the full spectrum of home and community-based care providers through information, advocacy, and education. HCP represents licensed home care services agencies, certified home health agencies, hospices, fiscal intermediaries, and related health organizations. Through a strong network of regional chapters and an active State office in Albany, HCP is a primary authority of the home health care industry. For more information, please visit www.nyshcp.org.
Home care. Health care. Your care . . . for life.®