State department to request increase in reimbursement rate for certain services

(1) Not more than ninety days after May 28, 2019, the state department shall request from the federal government an increase of eight and one-tenth percent in the reimbursement rate for the following services delivered to members through the home- and community-based services waivers: (a) Homemaker; (b) Homemaker enhanced; and (c) Personal care. (2) For the 2019-20 fiscal year, each home care agency shall pay one hundred percent of the funding that results from the rate increase described in subsection (1) of this section as compensation for employees who provide personal care services, homemaker services, and in-home support services to members. This compensation is provided in addition to the rate of compensation that the employee was receiving as of June 30, 2019. For an employee who was hired after June 30, 2019, the home care agency shall use the lowest compensation paid to an employee of similar functions and duties as of June 30, 2019, as the base compensation to which the increase is applied. (3) Within sixty days after the request described in subsection (1) of this section is approved, each home care agency shall provide written notification to each nonadministrative employee of the agency who provides personal care services, homemaker services, or in-home support services of the compensation they are entitled to pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.