§ 3607. Grants for expansion of services. 1. The commissioner is hereby authorized, within the amount allocated pursuant to subdivisions one, two and three of section thirty-six hundred fifteen of this article, to make grants to certified public and voluntary non-profit home health agencies for the purpose of increasing the availability of home health care services. Such grants shall be utilized to increase the number of persons provided services, the kind of services provided, including medical, social and environmental services, the sharing of services or to improve or expand the method or frequency of the delivery of home health care services. Grant applications shall include specific plans to provide the following:

a. an expansion of the types of services made available to persons at home as provided for in subdivision two of section thirty-six hundred two of this chapter;

b. an increase in the number of persons provided home care services by the certified home health agency, directly or through contractual arrangement, or to provide for the availability of certified home health agency services on a seven-day-a-week basis;

c. the development of training programs approved by the commissioner to improve the quality of services provided by the certified home health agency;

d. the development of programs to coordinate the work of the certified home health agency with other community resources, including but not limited to other certified home health agencies, hospitals, and social services agencies;

e. demonstration projects to provide care in the home by using methods, programs, or arrangements not ordinarily used by certified home health agencies, and that will help to determine the most appropriate means of reducing institutional care and of providing better quality home care services, most cost-effective home care services, and more accessible home care services;

f. the development of programs to improve home care patients' access to primary health services; or

g. the development of "home care volunteer programs for maternal and child health" pursuant to subdivision two of this section.

2. a. For purposes of this section, "home care volunteer program for maternal and child health" shall mean a program developed, coordinated and provided by a certified home health agency for purposes of assisting pregnant women and children. Such assistance shall include but not be limited to: guidance in self care related to prenatal care and post partum care such as information concerning proper nutrition, exercise, hygiene, drug, tobacco and alcohol use, and breast feeding; guidance in infant care; friendly visiting; and telephone reassurance. Such assistance may also include home maintenance, child care and shopping. Additional services which the agency may provide in conjunction with the program shall include nursing, social work, home health aide and other approved agency services necessary to serve this population.

b. In providing such program, a certified home health agency shall utilize volunteers, especially women who have had children and who are willing and able to provide non-medical assistance to women for prenatal care and infant care.

c. The certified home health agency shall recruit, train and supervise volunteers for the program and shall assure that such volunteers are competent to perform the required tasks and are suited to the client. The agency shall designate a person responsible for management of the program.

d. Certified home health agencies which provide home care volunteer programs for maternal and child health shall establish provisions for referral and case coordination with prenatal care providers as defined in section three hundred sixty-five-k of the social services law.

3. A public or voluntary non-profit certified home health agency may make application for such grant in the manner and form prescribed by the commissioner. Grant applications may be made for up to a three-year period; however, grant awards shall be for one-year periods, subject to annual renewal upon approval by the commissioner.

4. A grant amount available under this program shall not exceed the total cost of providing the additional services, as specified in the application, less any income from governmental, third party or any other sources accruing as a result of the provision of such additional services. Grants may not be used for agency capital construction purposes. The initial grant and first year renewal may be no more than one hundred percent of the net cost of providing such additional services. Any grants provided for a third year shall be no more than seventy-five percent of the initial year's grant. No grant shall exceed one hundred thousand dollars per annum.

5. A grantee must certify to the commissioner that all available reimbursement for services has been and will be sought. To be eligible for a renewal grant, the level and amount of services provided during any previous grant period may not be decreased without the prior approval of the commissioner, and the grantee shall identify and certify that sufficient funds are available to maintain previous levels and amounts of service.

6. In awarding grants pursuant to this section, the commissioner and the advisory group established pursuant to subdivision six of section thirty-six hundred fifteen of this article shall take into consideration, in relation to the area served, the following factors: the number of patients awaiting discharge from hospitals or residential health care facilities for whom home care services are appropriate, the proportion of patients inappropriately placed in hospitals and residential health care facilities who could be served by in-home care, the scope, quantity and accessibility of currently available home health services, the ability of the agency to continue the expanded services upon expiration of the grant, and such other factors as the commissioner may determine are relevant to the public need for home health services.

7. In addition to the requirements of this section, the commissioner shall approve grant applications in accordance with the provisions of subdivisions five, six and seven of section thirty-six hundred fifteen of this article.

8. Funds for such grants shall be made available pursuant to the funding formula and allocations provided in subdivisions one, two and three of section thirty-six hundred fifteen of this article.

9. The commissioner, shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to administer this section.