N.Y. Public Health Law § 3607: Grants for expansion of services

§ 3607. Grants for expansion of services. 1. The commissioner is

hereby authorized, within the amount allocated pursuant to subdivisions

one, two and three of section thirty-six hundred fifteen of this

article, to make grants to certified public and voluntary non-profit

home health agencies for the purpose of increasing the availability of

home health care services. Such grants shall be utilized to increase the

number of persons provided services, the kind of services provided,

including medical, social and environmental services, the sharing of

services or to improve or expand the method or frequency of the delivery

of home health care services. Grant applications shall include specific

plans to provide the following:

a. an expansion of the types of services made available to persons at

home as provided for in subdivision two of section thirty-six hundred

two of this chapter;

b. an increase in the number of persons provided home care services by

the certified home health agency, directly or through contractual

arrangement, or to provide for the availability of certified home health

agency services on a seven-day-a-week basis;

c. the development of training programs approved by the commissioner

to improve the quality of services provided by the certified home health

agency;

d. the development of programs to coordinate the work of the certified

home health agency with other community resources, including but not

limited to other certified home health agencies, hospitals, and social

services agencies;

e. demonstration projects to provide care in the home by using

methods, programs, or arrangements not ordinarily used by certified home

health agencies, and that will help to determine the most appropriate

means of reducing institutional care and of providing better quality

home care services, most cost-effective home care services, and more

accessible home care services;

f. the development of programs to improve home care patients' access

to primary health services; or

g. the development of "home care volunteer programs for maternal and

child health" pursuant to subdivision two of this section.

2. a. For purposes of this section, "home care volunteer program for

maternal and child health" shall mean a program developed, coordinated

and provided by a certified home health agency for purposes of assisting

pregnant women and children. Such assistance shall include but not be

limited to: guidance in self care related to prenatal care and post

partum care such as information concerning proper nutrition, exercise,

hygiene, drug, tobacco and alcohol use, and breast feeding; guidance in

infant care; friendly visiting; and telephone reassurance. Such

assistance may also include home maintenance, child care and shopping.

Additional services which the agency may provide in conjunction with the

program shall include nursing, social work, home health aide and other

approved agency services necessary to serve this population.

b. In providing such program, a certified home health agency shall

utilize volunteers, especially women who have had children and who are

willing and able to provide non-medical assistance to women for prenatal

care and infant care.

c. The certified home health agency shall recruit, train and supervise

volunteers for the program and shall assure that such volunteers are

competent to perform the required tasks and are suited to the client.

The agency shall designate a person responsible for management of the

program.

d. Certified home health agencies which provide home care volunteer

programs for maternal and child health shall establish provisions for

referral and case coordination with prenatal care providers as defined

in section three hundred sixty-five-k of the social services law.

3. A public or voluntary non-profit certified home health agency may

make application for such grant in the manner and form prescribed by the

commissioner. Grant applications may be made for up to a three-year

period; however, grant awards shall be for one-year periods, subject to

annual renewal upon approval by the commissioner.

4. A grant amount available under this program shall not exceed the

total cost of providing the additional services, as specified in the

application, less any income from governmental, third party or any other

sources accruing as a result of the provision of such additional

services. Grants may not be used for agency capital construction

purposes. The initial grant and first year renewal may be no more than

one hundred percent of the net cost of providing such additional

services. Any grants provided for a third year shall be no more than

seventy-five percent of the initial year's grant. No grant shall exceed

one hundred thousand dollars per annum.

5. A grantee must certify to the commissioner that all available

reimbursement for services has been and will be sought. To be eligible

for a renewal grant, the level and amount of services provided during

any previous grant period may not be decreased without the prior

approval of the commissioner, and the grantee shall identify and certify

that sufficient funds are available to maintain previous levels and

amounts of service.

6. In awarding grants pursuant to this section, the commissioner and

the advisory group established pursuant to subdivision six of section

thirty-six hundred fifteen of this article shall take into

consideration, in relation to the area served, the following factors:

the number of patients awaiting discharge from hospitals or residential

health care facilities for whom home care services are appropriate, the

proportion of patients inappropriately placed in hospitals and

residential health care facilities who could be served by in-home care,

the scope, quantity and accessibility of currently available home health

services, the ability of the agency to continue the expanded services

upon expiration of the grant, and such other factors as the commissioner

may determine are relevant to the public need for home health services.

7. In addition to the requirements of this section, the commissioner

shall approve grant applications in accordance with the provisions of

subdivisions five, six and seven of section thirty-six hundred fifteen

of this article.

8. Funds for such grants shall be made available pursuant to the

funding formula and allocations provided in subdivisions one, two and

three of section thirty-six hundred fifteen of this article.

9. The commissioner, shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary

to administer this section.