GIS 12 MA/018: Revised Long Term Home Health Care Program (LTHHCP) Manual

To: Local District Commissioners, Medicaid Directors

From: Mark Kissinger, Director Division of Long Term Care

Subject: Revised Long Term Home Health Care Program (LTHHCP) Manual

Effective Date: Immediately

Contact Person: Vicki Rockefeller (518)474-5271 vlr01@health.state.ny.us

The purpose of this General Information System (GIS) message is to inform local departments of social service (LDSS) of the revised Long Term Home Health Care Program (LTHHCP) reference manual, which replaces the last version issued in June 2006. The manual is available on the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) website at: www.health.ny.gov/facilities/long_term_care. It is also available on the eMedNY website under Provider Manuals at: www.emedny.org.

The Manual provides information for LDSS and provider agency staff on the 1915(c) Medicaid (MA) Home and Community Based Services waiver, and supplements applicable State laws, regulations, and policy directives governing its implementation. Providers may also reference the eMedNY Provider Manual for Medicaid policies applicable to all enrolled MA providers, as well as claiming requirements for LTHHCP providers. To assure program quality and accountability, LDSS and service providers must comply with all the requirements set forth in these sources.

The new version includes the following programmatic changes:

  • Reassessment timeframe is extended from every 120 days to 180 days;
  • Medical Social Services are enhanced to include Community Integration Services to provide supportive counseling for individuals adjusting to living in the community with a disability;
  • Home Modifications renamed to Environmental Modifications and broadened to include vehicular modifications;
  • Assistive Technology added as a new waiver service incorporating the current Personal Emergency Response Services (PERS);
  • Community Transitional Services (CTS) added as a new waiver service for individuals transitioning from a nursing facility and needing assistance with first time moving expenses such as security deposits;
  • Home and Community Support Services (HCSS) added as a new waiver service to support individuals with cognitive deficits. HCSS is a combination of personal care services with oversight and supervision services, or oversight and supervision as a discrete service.