Round One Regulatory Waiver Responses

United Health Services PPS

  • Letter is also available in Portable Document Format (PDF)

December 28, 2016

Robin Kinslow–Evans, VP Strategic Planning
United Health Services PPS
United Health Services Hospitals, Inc.
10–42 Mitchell Avenue
Binghamton, New York 13903

Dear Ms. Kinslow–Evans:

On March 11, 2015, the Department of Health (Department), the Office of Mental Health (OMH), and the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) were pleased to respond to the request for waivers from certain regulatory requirements submitted by United Health Services Hospital, Inc. (UHS) in its capacity as lead for the UHS PPS under the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) Program. In that letter, we notified you that your waiver requests 44.23, related to Home Care orders, required additional review.

Pursuant to Public Health Law (PHL) § 2807(20)(e) and (21)(e) and in connection with DSRIP Project Plans and projects under the Capital Restructuring Financing Program which are associated with DSRIP projects, the Department, OMH, OASAS and OPWDD may waive regulations for the purpose of allowing applicants to avoid duplication of requirements and to allow the efficient implementation of the proposed projects. However, the agencies may not waive regulations pertaining to patient safety nor waive regulations if such waiver would risk patient safety. Further, any waivers approved under this authority may not exceed the life of the project or such shorter time periods as the authorizing commissioner may determine.

Accordingly, the regulatory waiver responses below are for projects and activities as described in the Project Plan application and any implementation activities reasonably associated with those activities. The regulatory waiver may no longer apply should there be any changes in the nature of a project. It is the responsibility of the PPS and the providers that have received waivers to notify the relevant agency when they become aware of any material change in the specified project that goes beyond the scope of which the waiver was granted. Further, the regulatory waiver approved is only for the duration of the projects for which it was requested.

The approval of regulatory waivers is contingent upon the satisfaction of certain conditions. In all cases, providers must be in good standing with the relevant agency or agencies. Other conditions may be applicable as set forth in greater detail below. The failure to satisfy any such conditions may result in the withdrawal of the approval, meaning that the providers will be required to maintain compliance with the regulatory requirements at issue and could be subject to enforcement absent such compliance.

The specific pending request for regulatory waiver included in the UHS PPS Project Plan application is addressed below.

44.23           UHS           10 NYCRR 766.4           2.a.i.; 2.b.iv.; 3.a.ii.; 3.b.i.; and 4.b.ii.

Background and justification provided in your request:

This request seeks a waiver of 10 NYCRR §766.4 to allow physician assistants to sign medical orders for home care services provided by licensed home care services agencies (LHCSAs). In addition to the specific waiver request above, PPS requests that the Department and Department of Education pursue a legislative proposal to allow non–patient specific nurse–driven protocols by amending the Nurse Practice Act and regulations in Title 8. Additionally, pursue legislative changes to permit home health aides with appropriate training to administer medications in home care and hospice settings, and provide other advanced interventions that are deemed safe and appropriate by the regulators. This would also facilitate system clinical integration and the projects that seek to provide timely preventive and daily care to patients in their homes or other community settings. The projects requested for are: 2.a.i.; 2.b.iv.; 3.a.ii.; 3.b.i.;and 4.b.ii., and may be supplemented as project teams work on implementation design plans, to authorize Physician Assistants (PAs)to issue home care orders and be deemed authorized practitioners under 10 NYCRR §763.7.

Response to waiver request:

Ordering of home care services by Physician Assistants. Approved solely with regards to LHCSAs. Current state regulation allows doctor of medicine, a doctor of osteopathy, a doctor of podiatry, a licensed midwife, or a nurse practitioner to order home care services for licensed home care services agencies (LCHSAs). This regulation will be waived to allow for physician assistants to order home care services for LHCSAs only. Federal regulation does not allow nurse practitioners or physician assistants to order home care services for certified home health agencies (CHHAs) or long term home health care programs (LTHHCPs) and we do not have the authority to waive federal regulations under DSRIP.

In cases where waivers are approved, the agencies will send letters directed to the providers which otherwise would be responsible for complying with the regulatory provisions at issue. Providers further will be advised that agency staff who conduct surveillance activities will be notified that these regulatory waivers have been approved; however, they should maintain a copy of their waiver letters at any site subject to surveillance.

Please note that the Department will continue to publish on its website a list of regulatory waivers that have been approved to assist PPSs in determining whether additional waivers may be appropriate for the activities within a PPS. Additional requests for waivers, as well as any questions regarding the foregoing, may be sent by email to DSRIP@health.ny.gov with Regulatory Waiver in the subject line.

Thank you for your cooperation with this initiative. We look forward to working with you to transform New York´s delivery system.

Sincerely,

Howard A. Zucker, M.D., J.D.
Commissioner of Health

Ann Marie T. Sullivan, M.D.
Commissioner
New York State Office of Mental Health

Arlene Gonzàlez–Sànchez
Commissioner
New York State Office of Alcoholism And Substance Abuse Services