Bill > SB6019

This bill aims to improve how rates for home care services are determined and managed, particularly for workers who provide direct care. It clarifies that changes in negotiated wages and benefits for individual home care providers, as well as labor rates set for consumer-directed employers, must be converted into a per-quarter-hour amount. This amount is then added to or subtracted from the statewide home care agency vendor rate, with any increases specifically designated for improving wages and benefits for home care agency workers who provide direct care, and for covering associated employer costs like taxes and premiums. The bill also establishes a process for determining the portion of the vendor rate dedicated to wages, benefits, and employer contributions, with specific requirements for fiscal years 2027 and beyond. Furthermore, it modifies the composition and procedures of a rate-setting board that advises on changes to rates paid to consumer-directed employers, which are entities that manage individual providers. The board's responsibilities are expanded to include reviewing projections for home care agency worker wages and benefits, and it will now attempt to determine a home care agency administrative rate, with limitations on how much of the total vendor rate can be allocated to administration. The bill also introduces a verification process, requiring home care agencies to submit audits or attestations to ensure compliance with wage and benefit requirements, and allows for temporary exemptions under extraordinary circumstances. Finally, it clarifies the definitions of "labor rate" and "administrative rate" for consumer-directed employers and introduces the term "home care agency administrative rate" and "home care agency vendor rate" to better define these components.