{"id":5507,"date":"2022-07-20T18:39:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-20T18:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/?p=5507"},"modified":"2022-07-26T20:21:37","modified_gmt":"2022-07-26T20:21:37","slug":"newyork_hcbs_efmap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/newyork_hcbs_efmap\/","title":{"rendered":"HCBS eFMAP: Clearing the Confusion and Seizing the Opportunity"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who doesn\u2019t love extra funding?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nobody, of course.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But when that funding comes from the government, there are always strings attached and often some confusion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 2022 payout of eFMAP funds is a great example. Agencies received their money in March, but questions still linger:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How did agencies qualify?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How were allocations made?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are allowable expenses?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And the crucial question:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>How can you leverage eFMAP money to benefit and grow your agency?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jamie Bayof of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/glatthealth.business.site\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GlattHealth Consulting<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Group<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> works with home healthcare agencies to finds answers. \u201cTo fully understand the topic, we need to go back to March 2021,\u201d he explains.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">eFMAP<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How would you spend $2B?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s the question NY State faced in the spring of 2021.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On March 11, 2021, Congress signed <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/117th-congress\/house-bill\/1319\/text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Most people called it the<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> COVID-19 Stimulus Package, and it poured $1.9 trillion into the American economy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Section 9817 gave state Medicaid programs a 10% increase in their Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAPs). FMAPs are unique percentages by which the federal government reimburses each state for its Medicaid expenditures.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The enhanced FMAP (eFMAP) applied to state Medicaid expenditures from April 1, 2021 to March 30, 2022. Although FMAP funds are usually a reimbursement, states were required to spend these eFMAP funds before March 31, 2024 to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enhance investments in home and community-based services (HCBS),<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Address COVID-related needs,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Build HCBS capacity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">States\u2019 eFMAP spending plans were subject to approval by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cms.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New York\u2019s Spending Plan<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In July 2021, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New York\u2019s Department of Health (DOH)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> presented a 51-page<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.ny.gov\/health_care\/medicaid\/redesign\/hcbs\/enhanced_funding\/docs\/2021-07-08_hcbs_spending_plan.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Spending Plan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the CMS. <\/span><b>NY\u2019s eFMAP funds totaled $2,146,000,000.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The state would allocate that money to more than <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">30 programs in 3 categories:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supporting &amp; Strengthening the Direct Care Workforce\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HCBS Capacity, Innovations, and Systems Transformation\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital Infrastructure Investments<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The programs address the wide range of HCBS. Each one is being rolled out to specific providers with distinct goals, terms, and timetables. To give just a few examples:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Expanded Capacity in NHTD-TBI Waivers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> increases resources to reduce nursing home admissions for New Yorkers who are elderly, disabled, or have experienced a traumatic brain injury.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>COVID-19 Workforce Performance Incentives<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> offer stipends to aides who worked during COVID and are still employed in the OPWDD <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/opwdd.ny.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Office for People With Developmental Disabilities<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> service system.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Workforce Transportation Incentive<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> supports initiatives such as agency-supplied car services for HHAs or passes for public transportation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cReach out to us if you think you\u2019re eligible for any of the eFMAP programs,\u201d says Jamie. \u201cWe can assist you with applying to the programs and determining what are allowed expenses and approved uses.\u201d <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LTC Workforce and Value-Based Payment (VBP) Readiness<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By far the most expensive and expansive of NY\u2019s HCBS eFMAP initiatives is the LTC Workforce and Value-Based Payment Readiness program. So much so that within the industry, \u201cFMAP\u201d has come to mean this program only\u2014despite the 29+ others! NY State refers to this program as its \u201cworkforce investments.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As its name implies, LTCW\/VBP Readiness has two goals:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improve <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/top-3-home-healthcare-challenges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">recruitment and retention<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to increase the HCBS workforce. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High turnover has always been an industry problem, and there\u2019s a severe employee shortage today. The DOH would also like a more diverse workforce. Research proves that patients fare better with culturally compatible caregivers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Transition home healthcare workers to a VBP model where payment is linked to quality performance. The hope is to improve patient outcomes, reduce hospitalizations, and reward excellent caregivers.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Qualifying for Funding<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only Licensed Home Care Services Agencies (LHCSAs) can receive LTCW\/VBP funding. Agencies were eligible based on their 2019 managed care revenue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medicaid divides NY State into four regions. For each region, the DOH considered providers in the 66th revenue percentile or above. Some agencies were eligible in multiple regions, so although the total awardees were 235, there were only 212 unique agencies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Region<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b> # of LHCSAs\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>in Top Third<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NYC Area<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">154<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mid-Hudson\/Northern Metro<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">28<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Northeast\/Western<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">30<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rest of State<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">23<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Total<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>235<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThat\u2019s only one-third of New York\u2019s LHCSAs,\u201d explains Jamie, \u201cBut those agencies directly or indirectly serve 93% of New York\u2019s recipients.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And what does this mean for smaller agencies who didn\u2019t make the cut? \u201cThey may have trouble remaining competitive,\u201d he admits.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct Payment Process<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NY State split its workforce investments into two directed payments. The current one, for $361M, was paid to LHCSAs in March 2022. The exact date of the second payment has not yet been announced.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The DOH set up a multi-step process to distribute the funds:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eligible agencies didn\u2019t automatically receive funding. In January 2022, they had to submit surveys and attestations to the DOH.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The DOH allocated the funds among the agencies. \u201cThis is a point of confusion,\u201d explains Jamie. \u201c<\/span><b>Eligibility was based on 2019 revenue. However, the allocations were based on an agency\u2019s 2021 revenue<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In March 2022, the DOH paid the funds to MAP and MLTCP plans. The MAP and MLTCP plans then distributed the funds to the LHCSAs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The LHCSAs have until March 31, 2023, to spend the funds. Beginning July 1, 2022, they had to submit quarterly spending reports and survey responses to the DOH.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><i>\u00a0 <\/i>\u00a0<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5508 size-large aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/BLOG-2-1024x496.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/BLOG-2-1024x496.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/BLOG-2-300x145.jpg 300w, https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/BLOG-2-768x372.jpg 768w, https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/BLOG-2-1536x743.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/BLOG-2-500x242.jpg 500w, https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/BLOG-2-800x387.jpg 800w, https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/BLOG-2-1280x620.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/BLOG-2.jpg 1595w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i>\u00a0From the NYC DOH<\/i><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allowed expenses<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAgencies who received <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HCBS <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">eFMAP funding are worried about spending it properly,\u201d says Jamie. \u201cThey have to report their spending and could be <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/home_healthcare_audits_surveys\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">audited<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf they used it for non-approved purposes, they might not be eligible for future awards. Worse, they might have to pay the money back to the state.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are approved uses? The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DOH identifies seven categories of allowed expenses for its workforce investments. It gives examples but leaves the door open for agencies to ask about specific cases:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>1. Workforce Recruitment and Retention<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Recognition and retention bonuses * Employee development and promotion initiatives * Enhanced job benefits * Pay raises<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>2. Training &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developing new training programs * Paid training opportunities * Incentives for completing training programs * Childcare coverage during training<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>3. Technology:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Consumer-personal assistant matching technology * Incident tracking systems * Remote monitoring devices * Online access to service records and virtual visits<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>4. Diversity and Cultural Competency:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Developing recruitment strategies for a racially and ethnically diverse workforce * Updating recruitment materials and external communications to include non-English language versions * Diversification of recruitment sources<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>5. Care Management: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developing roadmaps to best meet consumers\u2019 individualized needs * Improving communication with clients\u2019 support networks * Service planning processes and tools<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>6. Emergency Preparedness:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> New PPE * Prepared rapid training on infection control, virus testing, or natural disaster triage * Developing employee networks for backup providers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>7. Preparing for Value-Based Payment:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Training staff to document value-focused indicators * Integrating value of care into job descriptions and employee performance expectations * Building capacity to collect and report data * Adopting key performance metrics.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5509 size-large aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/BLOG-3-1024x524.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"409\" srcset=\"https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/BLOG-3-1024x524.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/BLOG-3-300x153.jpg 300w, https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/BLOG-3-768x393.jpg 768w, https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/BLOG-3-500x256.jpg 500w, https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/BLOG-3-800x409.jpg 800w, https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/BLOG-3.jpg 1136w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Terms and Conditions<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhen an agency comes to us for advice on spending its allocation, we go over the categories and brainstorm ideas,\u201d says Jamie. \u201cThey see that it\u2019s not so complicated, although you do need to follow the guidance provided.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The guidance is extensive, but some of the allowable expenses are ambiguous. And the fine print matters. For example,<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Software investments are allowed; other capital expenses are not.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Signing bonuses are allowable, but not if the employee was hired from another LHCSA.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transportation expenses for direct care workers are allowable, except for renting or leasing a vehicle.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But perhaps the biggest cause for concern is this: <\/span><b>Funding must be spent on new or augmented programs, services, and\/or purchases.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This condition gets tricky.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LTCW\/VBP<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> funds CAN\u2019T be used to pay HHA\u2019s salaries.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They CAN be used to fund raises, but ONLY IF those raises weren\u2019t already planned.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LTCW\/VBP<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> funds CAN be used to offer health insurance as a benefit, but ONLY IF the agency doesn\u2019t already provide it.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They CAN be used to expand a health insurance benefit, but ONLY IF the agency wasn\u2019t already planning the expansion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThere\u2019s been some confusion, but if you have a question, you can submit it to the DOH,\u201d explains Jamie. \u201cThey\u2019ve been good about getting back to us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can email the DOH at <\/span><a href=\"mailto:LHCSA.FMAP@health.ny.gov\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LHCSA.FMAP@health.ny.gov<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.ny.gov\/health_care\/medicaid\/redesign\/hcbs\/enhanced_funding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">check their website <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for more information.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting the most bang for your buck<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe HCBS eFMAP funds are a windfall,\u201d says Jamie, \u201cAnd you want to spend them most beneficially for your agency, your caregivers, and your patients.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Giving back to caregivers, especially those that worked through COVID, is one effective way to do this. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HCBS <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">eFMAP funds can be used to pay for <\/span><b>new<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bonuses<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pay increases<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Benefits.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hardworking aides deserve the reward and recognition. You and your patients benefit, too, since aides who feel appreciated are more likely to stay with an agency.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe can help,\u201d adds Shaya Sternhill, Melody Benefits Head Of Business Development &amp; Sales. \u201cOf course, eFMAP funds can\u2019t be used to pay <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/empowering-employees-to-maximize-wage-parity-benefits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">wage parity benefits<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. But as a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">w<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/inhouse-or-outsource-ny-wage-parity-benefits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">age parity TPA<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, we have proven systems for easy-to-administer <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/top-3-wage-parity-benefits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">benefits that employees love<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAgencies that offer our benefits see lower turnover and higher employee satisfaction. And many of the benefits, such as health and transit, are allowable under HCBS eFMAP.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you already use <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1eNUyOxXdF9jKfhPqaZTUww91LXSv3J-Im_30vOCTf4w\/edit?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">wage parity benefits<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> cards, consider adding eFMAP money to your employees\u2019 cards. And if you don\u2019t already offer a benefits card, this may be the perfect time to start.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSpeak to a benefits advisor and see what better benefits you can offer,\u201d says Shaya. \u201cTake advantage of the opportunities that eFMAP gives you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How did agencies qualify for eFMAP funding? How were allocations made? What are allowable expenses? Learn how to leverage eFMAP for employee retention and client satisfaction<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":"","_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[]},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Guide for LHCSAs: New York\u2019s HCBS eFMAP Funding<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Understand allocations. Clear confusion about allowable expenses. Learn to leverage eFMAP for employee retention and agency growth.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/melodybenefits.com\/newyork_hcbs_efmap\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Guide for LHCSAs: New York\u2019s HCBS eFMAP Funding\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Understand allocations. Clear confusion about allowable expenses. 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