By Tom Lydon

Chief Executive Officer

October 20, 2021

Good Morning to all of the Lifespire family,

I just wanted to share the latest news from OPWDD: FMAP Status: OPWDD and the New York Department of Health continue to negotiate the details of the Appendix K, which is the vehicle to be used to expend allocated federal dollars. Apparently, they are working on technical aspects to deliver the incentive payments.

Incentive payments would include:

• Retention /longevity bonuses
• HERO pay
• Cash vaccination incentives

All of which would be retroactive to July 1, 2021.

It is hoped that CMS will give final approval by the end of the week. We have been told many times over the past four months that CMS’s final approval was forthcoming. Lifespire and every other provider in New York State has stressed the importance of gaining CMS’s approval ASAP. The DSPs need to be compensated! Here is the link that discusses the

FMAP spending plan –
https://health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/hcbs/enhanced_funding/docs/2021-07- 08_hcbs_spending_plan.pdf

Vaccine Update:

Last week OPWDD issued an employee vaccine mandate for all specialty hospitals operated by OPWDD. There is only one OPWDD hospital facility in Manhattan that has been forced to mandate vaccination without a test out option.

We believe OPWDD is setting the stage to mandate vaccines in other federally funded programs such as our ICFs and IRAs. When we know more, we will share the information with the field.

Thank you for remaining committed to our founders, Ida Rappaport and Harry Kamish, and their vision for services to the people we serve and support. Thank you for continuing to reach out to our elected officials to insure that our HCBS waiver services get the funding we need and the pay you deserve.

With gratitude,

Tom Lydon

Tom Lydon/CEO Lifespire