- Certified Home Health AgencyCHHA
- A Medicare- and Medicaid-certified agency that provides short-term, skilled home health care — nursing; physical, occupational, or speech therapy; and home health aide services — usually after a hospital stay or for an acute condition. Care is physician-ordered and time-limited, unlike the ongoing support provided through Managed Long-Term Care.
- Department of HealthDOH
- The New York State Department of Health, which licenses and regulates home care agencies (S&A is licensed under DOH) and administers most Medicaid programs that cover home-based care.
- Home Health AideHHA
- A trained and certified caregiver who provides in-home care under a Registered Nurse care plan. HHAs help with daily living tasks (bathing, mobility, meals) and can perform certain medical-adjacent tasks such as medication reminders and basic health monitoring.
- Licensed Home Care Services AgencyLHCSA
- A home care agency licensed by the New York State Department of Health to provide personal care, home health aide, and nursing services in the home. S&A Unified Home Care is a licensed LHCSA. An LHCSA employs and supervises the caregivers who deliver hands-on care, usually under a Managed Long-Term Care plan or a physician's authorization.
- Licensed Practical NurseLPN
- A licensed nurse who has completed a practical nursing program and passed the NCLEX-PN exam. LPNs provide hands-on care under the direction of a Registered Nurse — wound care, medication administration, and routine clinical tasks.
- Managed Care OrganizationMCO
- A health plan that coordinates and pays for a member's covered care through a contracted network of providers. In New York, mainstream Medicaid managed care runs through MCOs; long-term home care is more often covered through a Managed Long-Term Care (MLTC) plan.
- Managed Long-Term CareMLTC
- A type of New York Medicaid plan designed for people who need help with daily activities due to long-term illness or disability. MLTC plans cover home care, adult day programs, and other long-term services. Members enroll in one plan that coordinates all their care.
- Medicaid
- A joint federal and state program that helps cover medical costs for some people with limited income and resources. In New York, Medicaid pays for most home health aide and personal care services through Managed Long-Term Care (MLTC) plans.
- Medicaid Advantage PlusMAP
- A New York managed care plan for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid (dual-eligible) and need long-term care. A MAP plan combines Medicare and Medicaid benefits — home care, doctor visits, hospital care, and prescriptions — into one coordinated plan.
- Medicare
- A federal health insurance program mainly for people 65 and older, and some younger people with disabilities. Medicare covers short-term skilled home health care ordered by a doctor (through a Certified Home Health Agency); it generally does not cover long-term personal care, which is usually covered by Medicaid.
- Nursing Home Transition and Diversion WaiverNHTD
- A New York Medicaid waiver program that lets qualifying adults receive long-term care in their own homes instead of in a nursing facility. Covers service coordination, assistive technology, home modifications, and community integration supports.
- Office for People With Developmental DisabilitiesOPWDD
- The New York State agency that funds and oversees services for people with developmental disabilities — including intellectual disability, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and related conditions. Services include community habilitation, day habilitation, respite, and skilled nursing.
- Personal Care AidePCA
- A trained caregiver who provides non-medical assistance with daily living — bathing, grooming, mobility, meals, and light housekeeping. PCAs work under a written Plan of Care developed by a Registered Nurse.
- Pooled Trust
- A trust account that lets people with income above the Medicaid limit still qualify for Medicaid by depositing the excess income each month. The trust then pays approved expenses (rent, utilities, etc.) on the member's behalf. Run by nonprofits in New York. S&A's intake team helps set this up when needed.
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the ElderlyPACE
- A program for adults 55 and older who need a nursing-home level of care but want to remain in the community. PACE brings medical care, home care, therapy, and adult day services together under one team, covered by Medicare and/or Medicaid.
- Registered NurseRN
- A licensed nurse who has completed a nursing program and passed the NCLEX-RN exam. At S&A, RNs build and supervise care plans, perform home assessments, manage medications, and provide clinical oversight to home health aides.
- Traumatic Brain Injury WaiverTBI
- A New York Medicaid waiver program for adults aged 18 to 64 with a traumatic brain injury or stroke who want to recover safely at home. Approved and coordinated in cooperation with a Regional Resource Development Specialist (RRDS).
