Bonus payments to HCBS direct-care workers (From Hawver’s Capitol Report)
Bonuses totaling $51 million will be distributed to Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) providers starting in June, Gov. Laura Kelly announced today.
The bonuses will benefit about 24,000 direct support workers in the state.
“Our direct-care workers have worked tirelessly to provide exceptional care to vulnerable Kansans during the pandemic and beyond,” Kelly said. “We recognize the hard work direct-care workers do, and we’ll build on this opportunity as an incentive to recruit and retain qualified staff.”
Provider agencies will receive a payment amount based on their number of current direct-care workers and immediate supervisors. All funds go directly to direct service workers and their immediate supervisors. Additionally, as an incentive to bring more direct support workers to the field, agencies will receive $1,500 dollars per new staff for a recruitment bonus.
The bonus payments are available through the American Rescue Plan Act signed into law in March 2021 to provide enhanced federal funding for Medicaid HCBS through a one-year 10% increase to the state’s Federal Medical Assistance Percentages.
The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will administer funding distribution.
A goal is to help Kansas with disabilities and behavioral health challenges to receive care in their homes and communities.
How to Apply (From the KDADS HCBS Workforce Team)
We have had a full week with the Workforce Incentive program and would like to provide you with some updates to the program.
Firstly, there are several updates to the KDADS Website that are available. We have posted an updated FAQ sheet and have added an FAQ sheet for FMS providers. We have also added two completed example application packets, one for day and residential support providers and another for FMS providers. As always, the items can be found at https://kdads.ks.gov/funding-opportunities
Secondly, we have received several questions about the necessity of the Unique Entity ID (UEI) assigned by SAM and have provided the following additional information. More guidance can be found in the FAQ online:
- Friendly reminder to please register with SAM in order to receive funding.
- Under the American Rescue Plan Act, Interim Final Rule, all eligible payees are required to have an active registration with the System of Award Management (SAM or SAM.gov) (https://www.sam.gov). You may provide a DUNS number if you are in the process of obtaining SAM.gov registration during the time of submission. However, it will be required in order to receive your payment.
- Why is System for Award Management (SAM or SAM.gov) registration required for this program?
- The US Department of the Treasury’s Final Rule to implement the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) expressly provides that the Uniform Guidance applies to programs funded by ARPA such as Workforce Incentive Program:
- “Payments from the Fiscal Recovery Funds as a general matter will be subject to the provisions of the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR part 200) (the Uniform Guidance).”
- 2 CFR parts 25.100 and 25.105 of the Uniform Guidance, in turn, establish that the System for Award Management (SAM) is the repository for standard information about applicants and recipients and provides that such part applies to “grants, cooperative agreements, loans, and other types of federal financial assistance.”
- Further, paragraph C.4 of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Compliance and Reporting Guidelines [SLFRF Compliance and Reporting Guidance Update 2.1 final (treasury.gov)] provides that, “in administering a program…[KDADS] will need to maintain procedures for obtaining information evidencing a given beneficiary, subrecipient, or contractor’s eligibility including a valid SAM.gov registration.”
- You might be wondering how long will it take to complete the SAM registration process? It should take about an hour to register through SAM.gov once you have all paperwork in order. A SAM.gov registration will take on average 7-10 days to process but may take longer given your unique business’ situation and the General Services Administration (GSA) processing time.
- Can I check on the status of my SAM.gov registration? Yes. From the SAM.gov home page, click on “Check Registration Status” and follow the instructions. The SAM.gov system will also email you regarding your status throughout the registration validation process.
- How much does it cost to acquire a SAM.gov registration? SAM.gov registration is free. If you receive any solicitation or navigate to any website requesting a fee to register for SAM.gov, be cautious. These services are not affiliated with this program or SAM.gov. It is free to register, and free assistance is available.
Please continue to refer to the website as we will be updating FAQs frequently. If you cannot find an answer to your questions online, please do not hesitate to email us at KDADS.workforce@ks.gov
SB 453: CNA training Bill
Allow LPNs to be instructors for CNA courses under the supervision of an RN.
Enrolled and presented to Governor on Friday, April 8, 2022. Not yet signed. This bill was presented to the Governor on April 8, 2022 she has 10 days to sign or veto or this automatically become law.
SB 286: Immunity from civil liability – passed The House, 64-51, then the Senate, 24-16
Extension of immunity from liability for COVID related claims for healthcare providers and businesses and increasing penalty for crimes against a healthcare worker through January 20, 2023.
Enrolled and presented to Governor on Friday, April 8, 2022. Not yet signed. This bill was presented to the Governor on April 8, 2022 she has 10 days to sign or veto or this automatically become law.
HB 267: Mega Budget bill - It passed The Senate, 33-5, and the House, 104-12
Full rebase for nursing homes – about an 89 million dollar increase.
Enrolled and presented to Governor on Friday, April 8, 2022. Not yet signed.
The governor can “line-item veto” specific expenditures and programs that she doesn’t want.
The Legislature returns to session on April 25.
