MLTC Home Care Minimum Wage Guidance

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Home Care Worker Minimum Wage Guidance

Wage Effective
October 1, 2022through March 31, 2023

September 12, 2022

Minimum Wage Home Care Worker Wage Increase

The $2/hour home care worker wage increase is effective 10/1/2022 on the minimum wage schedule. The $0.70 increase for Upstate effective 12/31/2022 continues to remain in effect.

Prior Minimum Wage Schedule

Region 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
NYC Metro $15.00 $15.00 $15.00 $15.00 $15.00
Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester $12.00 $13.00 $14.00 $15.00 $15.00
All Other Regions $11.10 $11.80 $12.50 $13.20 $13.90

Revised Minimum Wage Schedule (including Home Care Worker Wage Increase effective 10/1/2022)

Region 2019 2020 2021 1/1/2022 10/1/2022 1/1/2023
NYC Metro $15.00 $15.00 $15.00 $15.00 $17.00 $17.00
Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester $12.00 $13.00 $14.00 $15.00 $17.00 $17.00
All Other Regions $11.10 $11.80 $12.50 $13.20 $15.20 $15.90*

*1/1/23 includes 12/31/22 MW increase

  • The New York City Region reflects a personal care worker cost of $27.90
    • Effective for the Period October 1,2022 through March 31, 2023
    • Reflective of the October 1, 2022 home care worker wage increase
    • Inclusive of wage dependent fringe
  • The Upstate Regions reflect a personal care worker cost of $29.57
    • Effective for the Period October 1,2022 through March 31, 2023
    • Reflective of the October 1, 2022 home care worker wage increase
    • Reflective of the December 31, 2022 minimum wage increase
    • Inclusive of wage dependent fringe.
  • Considerations in the Negotiation Process regarding New York City Region Wage
    • $27.90 unit cost is a NYC Rating Region average
    • New York City Rating Region includes the following:
      • NYC Metro (5 Boroughs)
      • Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties
    • NYC Rating Region unit cost includes Wage Parity amounts
      • NYC Metro Wage Parity is $4.09
      • Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties Wage Parity is $3.22
  • Current negotiated rates should be considered as they vary based on several factors
    Experience Quality
    Location Fringe Benefits
    Book of business Worker Recruitment and Retention
    Travel Projected Overtime
  • Some contracts may already exceed wage requirements therefore necessitate less of an increase
  • Some contracts may fall farther below wage requirements therefore necessitate more of an increase.
  • Unit Cost of $27.90 added for every hour of service in NYC Region
  • A Plan's total hours (utilization) will vary from the region average based on Plan-specific Risk Score
    • Example 1: If region average utilization is assumed at 100 hours per member per month and a plans risk score is .9700 then a plan is funded at $27.90 for 97 hours per member per month
    • Example 2: If region average utilization is assumed at 100 hours per member per month and a plans risk score is 1.2000 then a plan is funded at $27.90 for 120 hours per member per month
  • Plans total aggregate funding can be considered based on average unit cost of $27.90 and total utilization based on risk score
  • Considerations in the Negotiation Process regarding Upstate Region Wage
    • $29.57 unit cost is an Upstate Rating Region average
    • Upstate Rating Regions includes three separate rating regions incorporating all counties except NYC Metro and Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester
      • Northern Metropolitan
      • Northeast/Western
      • Rest of State
    • Upstate rating regions do not include wage parity
  • Current negotiated rates should be considered as they vary based on several factors
    Experience Quality
    Location Fringe Benefits
    Book of business Worker Recruitment and Retention
    Travel Projected Overtime
  • Some contracts may already exceed wage requirements therefore necessitate less of an increase
  • Some contracts may fall farther below wage requirements therefore necessitate more of an increase.
  • Unit Cost of $29.57 added for every hour of service in NYC Region
  • A Plan's total hours (utilization) will vary from the region average based on Plan-specific Risk Score
    • Example 1: If region average utilization is assumed at 100 hours per member per month and a plans risk score is .9700 then a plan is funded at $29.57 for 97 hours per member per month
    • Example 2: If region average utilization is assumed at 100 hours per member per month and a plans risk score is 1.2000 then a plan is funded at $29.57 for 120 hours per member per month
  • Plans total aggregate funding can be considered based on average unit cost of $29.57 and total utilization based on risk score
Partial Capitation, MAP and PACE:

Rates - mltcrs@health.ny.gov

Complaints - mltctac@health.ny.gov

Mainstream and HARP:

Rates - bmcr@health.ny.gov

Complaints - managedcarecomplaint@health.ny.gov