20 % Pay Cut for Ohio Independent Providers

U.S.A. Ohio

Published

Any Ohio IP nurses out there? Just wondering what your thoughts are about our wages being cut by 20%. For homecare agencies their 1st hour is only being cut by 5%, while our 1st hour is being cut by 20% for doing the same work. Then for every hour after the 1st hour, agency will keep their full pay rate. Every hour after the 1st hour for independent providers will be cut by 20%, so agencies can continue to receive their full rate!

Anyone else feel the state is trying to get rid of us? 20%.....hmmn!

For Agency: (1) Effective October 1, 2011, reduce the medicaid program's first-hour-unit price for aide services to ninety-seven per cent of the price paid on June 30, 2011, and for nursing services to ninety-five percent of the price paid on June 30, 2011;

For Independent Providers: (2) Effective October 1, 2011, pay for a service that is an aide service or a nursing service provided by an independent provider eighty percent of the price it pays for the same service provided by a provider that is not an independent provider.

Oh, this was called "Victory for Home Care"

"The administration was able to reduce the cuts for agencies by reducing the rates paid to independent providers. Aside from receiving the 5% and 3% cuts on first hours for nurses and aides respectively, all Independent Providers will receive 20% less than the price paid to home care agencies, on the first hour and subsequent unit rates. The funds saved by this reduction will be used by the state to offset the cuts that were proposed for the first hour rates."

As independent provider nurses we do the same work, but yet we will no longer be receiving the same pay as agency. Anyone else out there think something is going on?

Why do they want Agency only ?

I find this whole thing very interesting. I have never heard of this before. Not sure if we have Independent Providers in PA. It does sound like they are raising the barriers to perhaps force the independent providers to give up and get out. I imagine it is because it is harder to control independent providers. They want that control.

Specializes in LTC and Homecare.
We Need TO Let Everyone know that there is going to be a hearing on this on AUGUST 15th More info to follow. I bet many do not even know that the cuts are going to happen in October 2011

Who is having this hearing on August 15th? Almost all IPS emails and phone numbers are listed on Carestar for contacting. IPS are just a small group of people trying to make an honest living. People like us do not ever get support, so I doubt a hearing is going to help. We do not have money to talk for us, so we do not have support!

Specializes in LTC and Homecare.
I find this whole thing very interesting. I have never heard of this before. Not sure if we have Independent Providers in PA. It does sound like they are raising the barriers to perhaps force the independent providers to give up and get out. I imagine it is because it is harder to control independent providers. They want that control.

Independent Provider nurses are not more difficult to control. We have to follow the OHC rules just like agency nurses. We are audited on our paperwork and billing just like agencies. Trust me, we are held accountable for everything and MORE. We have thorough background checks, CPR, etc..... If you have any nursing violations or restrictions, you cannot be an IP in the state of Ohio. The one agency, has made the local newspaper a few times. Let us see....oh yea, they sent a RN to work who they really had not done the required criminal background check. If they had done it, they would have known she had a suspended nursing license. Then, their other nurse (LPN) who was providing homecare to a man who was quadraplegic w/ bilateral arm amputations, abused him. Then harrassed him and his family, I believe by phone and on the internet. So, you see does it really matter if you are an agency nurse or a independent nurse? If someone is going to do something they are just going to do it.

Just because a nurse works for a agency does not mean he/she is more supervised in the consumer's home. All it means is they have a RN supervisor who comes out every 60 days. IP LPNs have a RN supervisor too who comes out! The case managers like when agency is in the home, because once they put an agency on the all service plan, they do not have to make any changes to it even though multiple agency nurses may come and go. But, if an IP is on the consumer case, they have to go in and update, if the IP leaves and a new one starts.

If they are going to eliminate us, then let them.......we cannot stop them.....we have no one advocating for us. The state wants carestar and nursing agencies to control the program, so let them and let us all see what happens. One of the largest nursing agencies in region 4 of Ohio runs ads nonstop everywhere for RN/LPNs for homecare......they cannot seem to keep them. The nonstop ads are starting to make them look desperate.Why is that? I know some consumers are saying they have had too many different carestar case managers? Why is that? What happened to them? How can there be continuity for a consumer when it does not exist. So if those running the Ohio Home Care Program really think they are going to solve the problems of this program by cutting our pay 20 % then let them. Just wondering, how does the ODJFS have the money to pay Carestar millions? How much of a pay reduction did Carestar take? Does anyone know?

Specializes in Home Healthcare.
The one agency, has made the local newspaper a few times. Let us see....oh yea, they sent a RN to work who they really had not done the required criminal background check. If they had done it, they would have known she had a suspended nursing license. Then, their other nurse (LPN) who was providing homecare to a man who was quadraplegic w/ bilateral arm amputations, abused him. Then harrassed him and his family, I believe by phone and on the internet. So, you see does it really matter if you are an agency nurse or a independent nurse? If someone is going to do something they are just going to do it.

Just because a nurse works for a agency does not mean he/she is more supervised in the consumer's home. All it means is they have a RN supervisor who comes out every 60 days. IP LPNs have a RN supervisor too who comes out! Just wondering, how does the ODJFS have the money to pay Carestar millions? How much of a pay reduction did Carestar take? Does anyone know?

I had actually worked that homecare case with the LPN about 5 years ago. I worked days and she worked nights. This was not a medicaid waiver case. I remember reading about it too in the Chronicle and Lorain Journal. I read about the other nurse in the same newspapers. How can an agency get away with sending a nurse out and not verifying her license or completing the criminal background check?

Pay reduction for Carestar? Are you serious.......don't hold your breath!!!

Was it the VNA who use to oversee the OHC waiver program for ODJFS before Carestar? They should really try to get the contract back. :D

Specializes in Home Healthcare.
We Need TO Let Everyone know that there is going to be a hearing on this on AUGUST 15th More info to follow. I bet many do not even know that the cuts are going to happen in October 2011

If you have something to announce, then please do so. Why wait to give out info? Just wondering, are you an Independent Provider?

Yes I work Independent and will post more information as I am getting the FACTS straight before I post. This has all been a BIG SUPRISE to me !! We should all have been notified through the wonderful my ohio page how UNPROFESSIONAL . I am in the process of speaking to my union, my billing company and some state reps so please understand thank you so far I have learned from a trusted source that August 15 this rule of reducing are pay will be up for consideration . I also was encouarged TO LET ALL IPS KNOW AND FIND A Safe Legal WAY TO BE HEARD. Thinking of contacted some local news rooms ect if this is worth fighting for you and consumers futures lets go

Specializes in Home Healthcare.
Yes I work Independent and will post more information as I am getting the FACTS straight before I post. This has all been a BIG SURPRISE to me !! We should all have been notified through the wonderful my Ohio page how UNPROFESSIONAL . I am in the process of speaking to my union, my billing company and some state reps so please understand thank you so far I have learned from a trusted source that August 15 this rule of reducing are pay will be up for consideration . I also was encouarged TO LET ALL IPS KNOW AND FIND A Safe Legal WAY TO BE HEARD. Thinking of contacted some local news rooms ect if this is worth fighting for you and consumers futures lets go

Why is this a surprise to you? This all went down weeks ago. Why would they have notified us on the 'myohiohcp' page? That would have made sense. Some of us are lucky if we can receive a correct, updated ASP on the 'myohiohcp' from a CM after asking 10 times.....no exaggeration.

We are never informed about anything of importance or that will effect us until after the fact. That is how it goes, plain and simple.

If I were you, I would not post anything of importance for independent providers about a hearing or what you have going on, on this site. It can be read by all. As you can see, there are not many IPs responding to the 20% pay cut here, so you may want to start emailing them.

Specializes in LTC and Homecare.
As you can see, there are not many IPs responding to the 20% pay cut here, so you may want to start emailing them.

Why do you think that is? Personally, I feel this would be a time all IPS would want to pull together, support and stand up for each other. What are they afraid of?

IPS are NOT responding to the pay cut anywhere that I am aware of. Not just on here, but not anywhere. Seems kind of strange to me.

Specializes in LTC and Homecare.

Is this subject now a mute issue? Nobody has anything to say? No updates? NOTHING?

Specializes in LTC and Homecare.
Have you ever heard of this new Ohio Home Care Program rule? Is this a new rule or a fabrication by the case manager? A consumer is being discharged from the hospital, the Carestar case manager tells the family and SW at the hospital, she will come out and open the case after discharge. Then, she tells them that the IP nurse cannot start for 2 weeks after she-Carestar case manager opens the case, but they can have agency in the home!!!!!!!!!

OH MY! Do I dare say this new rule was fabricated. :lol2: Seriously though, is this a new rule? IP nurses cannot work a case for 2 weeks, but an agency nurse can :yeah:OH MY, OH MY, OH MY....

Specializes in LTC and Homecare.
Yes I work Independent and will post more information as I am getting the FACTS straight before I post. This has all been a BIG SUPRISE to me !! We should all have been notified through the wonderful my ohio page how UNPROFESSIONAL . I am in the process of speaking to my union, my billing company and some state reps so please understand thank you so far I have learned from a trusted source that August 15 this rule of reducing are pay will be up for consideration . I also was encouarged TO LET ALL IPS KNOW AND FIND A Safe Legal WAY TO BE HEARD. Thinking of contacted some local news rooms ect if this is worth fighting for you and consumers futures lets go

JMO Independents do not need a union.......we are independent providers for a reason. We do need a voice to rally on our behalf, but not a union.

I don't know who encouraged you "TO LET ALL IPS KNOW AND FIND A Safe Legal WAY TO BE HEARD."

I personally have NEVER heard of IPS not using legal ways to be heard. You sound kind of silly.

I will try to be nice. I am amazed at the people who appear to be totally clueless, not only what is happening, but what has transpired in the past.

a 15% pay cut was proposed in 2006. The Ohio Home Care Council, LPNAO and Ohioip.net fought and had that rescinded. The real victory was when they were able to get a 3% increase due to take place Jan '08 and another 3% Jan '09. The then governor Strickland decided it would be easier to deal with SEIU than independent nurses and gave an Executive order that would insure IP's would ony be able to deal with the State through SEIU.

The pay increase was delayed until SEIU started negotiating so they could take credit for it. SEIU did all IP's a huge favor when they agreed to forego the 3% increase scheduled for '09 and instead opted for a 3% cut, taking IP's below what they were making before.:twocents:

:confused:Organizations like Ohio Home Care Council, LPNAO and Ohioip.net have not been supported by the people they represent in spite of nominal membership fees; LPNAO, the oldest LPN organization in the country, is only $75/yr; and are unable to staff so they can lobby for us.

It is amazing that one respondent said she would contact her union.:eek: I think 1.75% of your pay would warrant them contacting you, but they don't care if you make minimum wage as long as they get their cut.:D

Professional should always support their organizations, and since the nurses working as IP's haven't done so, we are left alone and quite frankly deservedly so.

Ohioip.net had one of the most wonderful pages for pt's and nures to connect, but when posts started making fun of the site:lol2: because of the selfish nurses getting pt's without having to pay anything, that feature was dropped.

LPNAO was founded in 1942 and is responsible for LPN's being able to be nurses. Their membership barely is able to keep an office open, there are over 5,000 LPN's in Ohio, membership is under 800, at one time they made a call to the membership that filled the statehouse. In spite of this a core group works the best they can in dealing with Legislative issues, but can't keep on top of everything.:uhoh3:

Allnurses, while a great site and alot of fun, has nobody who is an expert on anything. Instead of messing around here, :idea:how about finding out who, regardless if you are a paid member or not, represents you, and send them a check. Remember, our ability to practice can be wiped out with the same pen stroke that gave us that ability.:redbeathe

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