Committee approves respite contracts; members debate retroactive January start dates

The Human Services Committee on Sept. 1, 2025, approved resolutions authorizing the Office of the Aging to enter into respite contracts with Elderwood of Cornell and Houghton Rehab and Nursing to provide temporary placement for caregivers needing respite. Anita Madison, director of the Office of the Aging, presented both contracts. For Elderwood of Cornell she said the contract term is Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025, with daily rates of $476 for a private room and $439 for a semi‑private room for a 24‑hour stay. Madison said the contract will be funded through multiple streams, including ISEP caregivers, ADCSI and unmet needs. For Houghton Rehab and Nursing she said the term is Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025, with daily rates of $473 for a private room and $465 for a semi‑private room. Committee members questioned why the contracts were dated Jan. 1, 2025, when the committee was considering them months later. Several members raised concerns that approving contracts with a retroactive January start could imply rate changes or payments back to that date. Madison and the committee’s legal/administrative representative explained there are cases when agreements must match the start date of underlying grant funding and that some grants have earlier effective dates; when retroactive payments are required the department sometimes presents contracts with earlier start dates so vendor invoices can be paid from the correct grant period. Members asked whether any payments had been made to these vendors earlier in 2025; Madison said, to her knowledge, no payments for these two vendors had been made before the meeting. One committee member moved to amend the contract term to Sept. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025, for the Houghton contract (and the chair noted the same change could be applied to Elderwood if the committee desired). The proposed amendment was discussed; the committee tabled further modification pending verification of grant periods and any retroactive charges. Ultimately the committee carried the resolutions to enter into the two respite contracts as presented, and the chair announced the motions carried by voice vote. The contracts are intended to expand respite options for caregivers who decline certain locations for conflict‑of‑interest or personal‑preference reasons. Committee members asked staff to check grant start dates and any invoices or vouchers before finalizing retroactive terms in future contracts.