Legislative Bulletin: Dial-in NOW to LeadingAge NY's Budget Briefing!

Reminder: Budget Briefing happening now!

LeadingAge New York policy analysts are hosting a budget briefing this morning at 10:30 a.m. to review the Association’s analysis of the governor’s Executive Budget proposals. To participate in this conference call, please dial 1-866-380-9615 and use participant code 548776#.

This call will also focus on Advocacy Day logistics – If you have not yet registered for the Tues., Feb. 5 Advocacy Day, you can do so online. The governor’s proposals include several initiatives stretching across the long term care continuum and also include potential budget cuts. We encourage you to join us for Advocacy Day to tell your lawmakers about the important work you do and how your organizations, those you serve and employ will be impacted by damaging cuts to aging services.

There is no need to register for this call; however, it will be recorded and made available on the Legislative Action Center for those unable to dial-in. Time will be allotted for questions and answers during the call.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding today’s budget briefing, LeadingAge New York’s analysis or Advocacy Day, please contact Alyssa Lovelace at 518-867-8844.

LeadingAge New York presents testimony at Health/Medicaid hearing

Jim Clyne, President/CEO of LeadingAge New York, presented testimony at the Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Health/Medicaid, earlier this week. The testimony, which addresses service-line specific Executive Budget proposals and recommendations made by LeadingAge New York, also addresses the following over-arching themes:

• mandate relief, as related to home care worker wage parity, nursing home wage mandates and the proposal for an increase in minimum wage;
• the global cap, which will increase by 3.9% in recognition of the increase Medicaid CPI;
• mandatory MLTC transition, including the need for adequacy of rates, a firm timeline to transition properly and capital for infrastructure;
• infrastructure, particularly pertaining to the governor’s proposed ALP expansion and inclusion of a capital component for the ALP, as well as the need for affordable housing;
• consolidation of health care program funding in relation to the Executive proposal to consolidate 89 separate programs into six competitive pools and cut programs by 10 percent; and
• equity investment in health care – the governor proposed a pilot program that would allow for increased capital investment in health care facilities, and principals of a publicly-traded corporation to establish a New York affiliate and offer health care services.

The PAC Golf Tournament is back!

The annual LeadingAge New York PAC Golf Tournament is back at Saratoga Spa Golf Course on Mon., May 20, and has been modified to ensure the best outcome for golfers, sponsors and the PAC!

In addition to the PAC’s traditional 18-hole tournament, will be a pro-golf clinic and 9-hole tournament for those who have not golfed with us in the past or want to try out the sport!

To learn more about this year’s new golf format, sponsorship opportunities or to register to golf, click here.

Committee News

Senate Health Committee: 12 p.m., Tues., Feb. 5 in Rm. 124 CAP

• 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.

Assembly Health Committee: 10 a.m., Tues., Feb. 5 in Rm. 823 LOB

• 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.


• 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.