Legislative Bulletin: Additional budget cuts heading our way!
The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform issued this draft report earlier this week, faulting New York State for increased federal taxes due to the state’s Medicaid expenditures.
The report outlines six recommendations to prevent Medicaid fraud and abuse in the state, one in particular that will have the state paying approximately $1.1 billion back to the federal government. We have learned that $800 million of this money is likely to be included as cuts in this year’s Medicaid budget and outlined in the 30-day amendments that are to be released on Feb. 21.
The committee that developed this report is expected to reach a final decision next week in order to begin implementing its recommendations. LeadingAge New York is partnering with other associations to address this issue and will be reaching out to members of the Legislature, as well as the NYS Congressional delegation on this matter. We will update members as we learn more, but obviously, this will mean we will be counting on you for important grassroots advocacy in the coming weeks – starting TODAY!
Advocacy Alert: February Fridays begin today! With budget season in full-swing, and an $800 million cut looming over the state’s health care system, it’s time to start contacting lawmakers, urging their support in protecting aging services. We have developed two letters that are located below and on our Legislative Action Center to send to your lawmakers. Please take five minutes out of your day today and urge your colleagues and those you serve to join in on this crucial advocacy initiative.
- Reject Medicaid Cuts & Save our Seniors! Urge your lawmakers to oppose additional budget cuts and unfunded mandates in this year’s budget.
- Support Funding for Affordable Housing and Support Services for Seniors! Educate your lawmakers about the need for additional affordable senior housing and LeadingAge New York’s New York State Supportive Senior Housing Services Program.
LeadingAge New York releases Senior Housing white paper
LeadingAge New York issued a report earlier this week, addressing the need for additional affordable senior housing in the state. The report, “Senior Housing in New York State,” details the growing need for good senior housing policy, stronger health care for seniors and the disproportionate impact that future trends will have on women. The analysis breaks out trends by region in a simple and easily understandable way.
To assist in this effort of expanding affordable senior housing in New York State, LeadingAge New York is proposing the New York State Supportive Senior Housing Services Program (SSHSP). This program’s investments will enable more low-income seniors to age in place, thereby reducing Medicaid costs, and outlines ways to preserve and update existing affordable senior housing priorities; provide gap funding for new senior housing “pipeline” construction to include supportive housing building features; and infuse supportive services into affordable senior housing.
LeadingAge New York’s President and CEO, Jim Clyne, was a guest on radio talk show host Susan Arbetter’s Capital Pressroom and on with Liz Benjamin of Capital Tonight to discuss the Association’s report, as well as our funding request. To access the interview with Susan Arbetter, click here and choose Feb. 4, 2013 under “listen to past broadcasts.” Jim’s interview with Liz Benjamin can be found here.
2013 PAC Fund drive
Our Political Action Committee (PAC) fund drive kicks off with our Advocacy Day, which was held on Tues., Feb.5. A well-funded PAC allows us to support candidates and lawmakers who oppose cuts to long-term care services and enables us to be involved in both the legislative and political process. Help us raise our voices in the Legislature by supporting our PAC – contribute today!
A special thank you to this year’s Founders Club Members, who have contributed $1,000:
- Loren Ranaletta
- Mary Frances Barrett
- Stuart Kaplan
MRT issues report on Medicaid and health care initiatives
The December 2012 Medicaid Administration Annual Report to the Governor and Legislature was released, yesterday, focusing on the State’s Medicaid initiatives over the past year. Included in the document are timelines and a breakdown of programming and functions that the state has worked to implement, including Managed Long Term Care.
The report also describes how the State has worked to implement the Affordable Care Act. In a recent press release issued by the governor’s office, the federal government has awarded New York State $185.8 million in grants to implement its State Health Benefit Exchange. The state was awarded $370 million over all to implement this federal initiative, and will operate its own state-run Health Exchange.
Assemblywoman and Senator join forces on “Spousal Refusal”
Yesterday, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis of Staten Island and Senator Martin Golden of Brooklyn held a press conference calling for the preservation of spousal refusal, which Gov. Cuomo called for the elimination of in his Executive Budget. The Legislature has opposed such effort for 25 years, so this is not surprising.
Spousal refusal is a provision in state law that helps care-giving individuals afford long-term care for their spouses, by separating their income and resources from spouses in home care due to chronic health needs.
According to a press release, “with spousal refusal, the healthy spouse is able to keep a home, a car and up to $113,640 in assets. Without spousal refusal, the couple would have to spend down and live the remainder of their lives on $20,850 in assets.”
Thank you to our LeadingAge New York/ADHCC Advocacy Day participants
LeadingAge New York and the Adult Day Health Care Council would like to thank those who traveled from across the state to meet in Albany this week for Advocacy Day! We cannot stress enough how important it is to meet with your lawmakers and let them know your organizations’ stories. Materials that were used for Advocacy Day, including the issue brief and talking points, are available online and may be downloaded for your use when discussing this year’s Executive Budget proposals. In the meantime, we encourage you to continue to meet with your lawmakers during the remainder of the legislative session. For assistance scheduling appointments or to find out ways you can advocate, please contact Alyssa Lovelace or Ami Schnauber at 518-867-8383.
Are you ready to golf?
The LeadingAge New York Annual PAC Golf Tournament will be held on Mon., May 20 at Saratoga Spa Golf Course.
This year’s event will kick-off at 11:45 a.m. for the 18-hole competition and 1 p.m. for the nine-hole competition and pro-golf clinic! We’ll end the day with a cocktail reception, prizes and giveaways!
Registration and sponsorship opportunities are available online and by contacting Alyssa Lovelace at 518-867-8844.
Committee updates:
Reported out of Senate Health and placed on the Senate Floor Calendar:
- S.2118 (Ranzenhofer) – This legislation will provide affordable, accessible, continuing care services to seniors living at home. With the support of a case manager, seniors will be able to choose from a menu of services based upon their individual needs. LeadingAge New York supports this bill. Send a letter to your lawmakers, urging them to support this legislation!
Reported out of Assembly Health and to Assembly Codes:
- A.2180A (Gunther) – This bill enacts the Safe Patient Handling Act. The legislation would forever change the compassionate, hands-on nature of nursing and would place the provider ahead of the patient. The use of mechanical lifts for all transfers and repositioning can have numerous and disabling effects on patients, including: promoting dependence, accelerating muscle deterioration and promoting constipation due to inactivity. LeadingAge New York opposes this legislation. Send a letter to your lawmakers, urging them to oppose this legislation!
Reported out of Assembly Health and to Assembly Ways and Means:
- A.3139 (Gottfried) – This bill establishes the Nursing Home Diversion Program. This bill would essentially mandate minimum staffing levels. While LeadingAge New York agrees that staffing levels are directly correlated with quality of care, there are many variables that have an impact on quality, in addition to staffing. This bill oversimplifies the issue, and fails to recognize the many variables that go into measuring quality. LeadingAge New York opposes this legislation.