Thursday, July 28, 2005
State, home care association reach agreement
CONCORD, N.H. --Agencies that offer home health care to seniors have dropped a lawsuit to force the state to increase the rates paid for their services.
The agencies got a 4.6 percent increase in the budget Gov. John Lynch signed last month. The agencies had wanted more, arguing that reimbursements have failed to keep pace with costs so they are now being paid 50 cents for every $1 they spend on services.
The state ignored a law that requires it to update reimbursements regularly. In the new budget, lawmakers suspended that law and tied rates to the money lawmakers appropriated for the services.
The Home Care Association dropped their lawsuit after extensive negotiations with the state produced an agreement that they would work together to increase rates.
from boston.com news
