State Activities to Increase C.N.A. Wages

State

Efforts to increase wages in 2000

Efforts to increase wages in 1999

Designed through Legislation, Rate Setting, or Budget

Wage pass-through

non-specific increase change in reimbursement formula

Description

Status

Accountability Voluntary or Mandatory

AL

N

N

 

 

 

 

 

AZ

Y

N

 

 

Discussion of increase in wages through LTC Taskforce that will start again in fall 2000

 

 

CA

Y

Y

Legislation and Budget

$50 M.Wage pass through in Governor’s Aging with Dignity Budget. Includes 7.5% incr. for housekeepers, maintenanc,e admin. And direct care staff.

Increased wages and lower ratio

Passed

7/1/00 Medi-Cal will start program. Mandatory for providers.

CO

Y

N

 

Discussion of funding of benefits counselor to assist workers access public benefits such as child care, earned income tax program etc. 

Coalition and Governor’s panel

 

NA

D.C.

N

N

 

LTCOP advocating for wage pass-throughs

 

Discussing with local govt officials

To be determined. No specific time frame. Probably will be voluntary

DE

Y

N

 

 

Wage increase for C.N.A in state-owned N.H., not those in privately operated facilities.

 

 

GA

N

 

 

 

 

 

 

HI

N

N

 

 

 

 

 

IA

Y

 

 

 

Industry efforts for wage pass through

failed

 

ID

Y

N

No organized effort, only market driven on individual facility basis

 

 

 

 

IL

Y

Y

Legislation, Budget

PCW wage pass-through of $19 million in FY ’01.

Effective 7/1/00 facilities will receive a 2.5% increase in Medicaid reimbursement. No specific requirements tied to increase.

 

 

IN

N

N

 

 

 

 

 

KY

Y

Y

Was proposal to pass-through wage increase

To be determined, but legislative session adjourned in 4/2000

 

 

Mandatory

LA

N

N

 

 

 

 

 

ME

N

Y

Legislation

Wage pass through of $4M for C.N.A.s in NH, passed in 1999.

federal match of $533,000

 

Check is done at time of facility audit. Mandatory participation.

MD

Y

?

Budget

$10 M additional funds for both  FY 2002 and 2003 for Medicaid nursing service cost centers.

Funds to be used for increase in hours to residents, increase staffing, increase wages, benefits or compensation to direct care personnel.

Passed

NH expenditures will be subject to audit and cost settlement by Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene

MA

Y

 

$35 M wage pass through for CNAs in Medicaid facilities passed through budget, signed by governor.

 

Funds available for wages and benefits, not pool staff.

 

Accountability mandated. Details to be developed. Mandatory wage pass-through.

MI

Y

Y

Budget

Wage pass-through.

$.50/hour wage pass-through for fy 2001. Contingent on each NF pay their C.N.A. at least $8.50 during post-probationary period.

 

 

MN

Y

Y

Legislation

Divide increase into compensation costs (salaries, payroll taxes, fringe benefits for all employees except mgt, admin and central office staff) and operating costs.

Compensation costs for direct care staff increased by 3.63% in fy 2000.

 

Facilities must submit plan for increasing wages and operating costs, and post plan in employee room or give copy of plan to every employee. Raises can only be used for existing staff, not new staff. Facilities using funds differently- some for raises, some for benefits

MT

Y

Y

Rate Setting, Budget

Wage pass-through  $2.14/day for all direct care workers.

 

 

Documentation of starting/ ending wages. Will audit select facilities to ensure. Voluntary participation.

NH

N

N

 

 

 

 

.

NM

Y

Y

Legislation

Wage pass-through.

Failed in committee

 

 

NV

Y

Y

Legislation, Rate Setting, Budget

 

 

 

 

NY

N

N

 

 

 

 

 

NC

Y

N

Legis., Rate Setting, Budget

“labor enhancement” to be used for multiple items.

Being discussed by legislators and aging study commission.

Expect wage increases to be implemented by Oct 2001.

 DHHS to develop safeguards for accountability. Not yet completed.

ND

Y

N

 

 

Task force on LTC appointed by governor has subcomm. looking at increasing wages for C.N.A. s, HHA., and career ladder

Legis. session begins Jan. 2001

Medicaid and private pay rates are same in ND

OK

Y

Y

Legislation and rate setting.

 

Wage pass- through. Increase to $6.65 hourly as minimum wage for C.N.A., effective 7 – 1-2000. All other staff receive $1.50 hour increase

Signed by governor 6-6-2000. Immediate implementation.

Staffing reports/cost reports/audits. Mandatory participation by providers.

RI

Y

 

Budget

Ongoing discussions with DHS re increases for C.N.A.s

Industry proposal earmarked for direct care staff. Not passed this year.

 

 

SD

N

N

 

Non-specific incr. in rates

Task force convened in May to study rates currently being paid to facilities

 

 

TN

DK

DK

 

 

 

 

 

TX

Y

Y

Rate setting, Budget.

Change in reimbursement formula. 3.1% incr. in reimb. for FY 2000

.

Currently being implemented

Legis. requirement that increases targeted to staffing, with tracking through cost reports. Mandatory participation.

UT

Y

N

Increase in Medicaid rates for C.N.A. wages only

 

 

Slowly beginning

 

VA

N

Y

Legislation

$1. hour wage pass through in 1999.

 

 

Was not equitably distributed. Not all staff received, not all facilities applied.

VT

N

Y –

Legislation, Rate setting.

Change in reimbursement formula.1999 statute allowed $4 M. from NH bed tax to improve wages and benefits for NH employees. Each NH receives pro- rata share of fund. Facilities can spend funds on any wage or benefit for all staff, except owners/administrators.

States must report to state 60 days after beginning of fy how they are using funds.

Some facilities used to increase wages of all staff, others use as signing bonuses to attract new staff.

States will use facility cost reports to determine if and how supplement was used. If not used for wages/benefits, supplemental payments treated like Medicaid overpayments and can be recouped. Supplement in effect until 2000 when all cost categories will be been rebased. Then supplement will be incorporated into base.

WA

Y

Y

Legislation

Change in reimbursement formulas. Wage pass-through of $.50 /hour/year for 2 years.

 

Accomplished.

 2 year time frame for implementation. Mandatory participation.

WV

N

N

 

No formal increases proposed, but many facilities paying bonuses and increased initial wages to increase staffing.

Discussing wage pass-throughs in ongoing discussions with Bureau for Medical Services

 

 

WI

Y

Y

 

Increase specifically for C.N.A.s not dietary and other support services passed in last biennial budget.

 

 

Some difficulties for facilities since funds could not be used for support services personnel.