May 3, 2024
- By : Ambassador Team
With an awareness of increasing life expectancy and exhausting financial resources as the cost of maintaining individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders increases (ADRD), The Ambassador has been actively participating in a program with NYS Department of Health to maintain our long-standing residents and fulfill our moral obligation of caring for them to the end of life’s journey.
The SNALR voucher program is crucial for individuals with ADRD exhausting financial resources thus limiting access to specialized assisted living services. Historically, such individuals might have had to enroll in Medicaid and move to a more restrictive skilled nursing facility. This program helps prevent those transitions by subsidizing up to 75% of the regional average private pay rate for SNALR services, allowing residents to stay in a supportive, less restrictive environment. The remaining 25% of the monthly rate would be paid by the family.
In 2023, the Department of Health paused the approval of new applications due to widespread support and expanded demand. However, existing voucher recipients continued to benefit without interruption. Additionally, those on the waitlist would be integrated into the program as new vouchers become available, adhering to their original order on the list and within the program’s budget constraints.
The Good News
In the latest New York State budget for 2024-2025, an important development has been solidified affecting our licensed Assisted Living Residence community. The budget has permanently established the Special Needs Assisted Living Voucher (SNALR) program, maintaining funding at approximately $7 million, consistent with previous years. Crucially, restrictions on the number of participants have been removed, which could allow for future expansion of the program to accommodate more individuals.
Information / Preparation
Families and caregivers looking to take advantage of this program should keep informed about any updates and be prepared to act when the application process resumes. We encourage reviewing the detailed eligibility criteria and program guidelines available. A broad stroke guide to financial eligibility is that an individual’s resources are less than or equal to six (6) months of the average regional monthly cost of facility. DOH categorizes that in Westchester to be $9,993 (x 6 = $59,958) and that resources or assets that equal more than three (3) months of the average regional monthly cost has not been transferred for the year prior to date of your application (9,993 x 3 $29,979).
The Ambassador crew keeps in contact with the state regarding the program’s funding and had an opportunity to discuss the program with Assemblywoman Amy Paulin when she visited us recently.
UpToDate information is available at the Department of Health should any of our families meet the qualifiers. All forms, guides and other information are posted on the Departments’ website at https://www.health.ny.gov/facilities/adult_care/voucher/ and you may access a copy of the Special Needs Assisted Living Voucher Demonstration Program for Persons with Dementia form on our website here: SNALR Voucher Application.
At The Ambassador, we recognize the importance of supportive programs like the SNALR voucher program. We are committed to assisting our residents and their families in leveraging these opportunities to enable them to retain residency with us. You can reach the Department at ALTCteam@health.ny.gov we have found them to be responsive and helpful.