One-time hazard pay is on its way to almost 26,000 aides for home health care and personal care attendants who serve elderly and disabled Virginians in their homes.
However, the General Assembly still must decide whether to raise reimbursement rates for serving Medicaid recipients to help offset pending increases in the minimum wage and, if so, by how much.
The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, the administrator of the stateâs Medicaid program, last week approved $42.5 million in hazard payments to home health workers, both aides who work for private agencies and personal care attendants who work directly for Medicaid clients in their homes.
The Virginia General Assembly must increase Medicaid reimbursement rates to provide a fair wage to home health care workers, Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas and Del. Lashrecse Aird write in a guest column.