Legislative Bulletin: Final Stretch of Session Kicks Off Next Week
CCRC Cybersecurity Regulations Exemption Bill Advances in Senate
This week, amid a protracted partisan stalemate in the Senate and rumors about the 2018 Legislative Session potentially ending a week early, one of LeadingAge NY’s key priorities was on the move. On Wednesday, A.10486 (Cahill)/S.7940-A (Seward), a bill that would exempt continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) from the expensive and onerous cybersecurity regulations adopted by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) last year, was reported out of the Senate Insurance Committee and is now on its second reading. Following its third reading, the bill will be placed on the Senate Floor Calendar for debate. To send your legislators a pre-written letter or social media message encouraging them to sign on as a co-sponsor, please click here. Now is also a great opportunity to thank Senate Insurance Committee Chair Jim Seward for advancing the bill and call on Assembly Insurance Committee Chair Kevin Cahill to do the same. LeadingAge NY has prepared the following sample messages for you to post on your social media platforms:
Facebook: Thank you @SenatorJimSeward for advancing bill A.10486/S.7940-A out of the Insurance Committee. @AssemblymanCahill, now it’s your turn!
Twitter: Thank you to Senator Jim Seward for advancing bill A.10486/S.7940-A out of the @NYSenate Insurance Committee. @cahill2012, now it’s your turn!
During Final Stretch of Session, Continue Advocating on LeadingAge NY’s Other Priorities
All hands on deck, advocates! With only 11 session days left, LeadingAge NY remains committed to advancing a number of other important bills and asks that you keep up the pressure on your legislators to sign on to and work with their colleagues to pass the following:
- Medication Aides in St. Lawrence County Nursing Homes (LeadingAge NY is working hard to advance A.7377 (Jenne)/S.7164 (Ritchie), legislation that would authorize a demonstration program to test the use of medication technicians in nursing homes in St. Lawrence County. The bill would allow Certified Nursing Aides (CNAs) to administer medication under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN). As many of you know, this would free up significant time for your nurses and help address some of the nursing shortages you are facing. Please encourage your legislators’ support for this important demonstration program! The bill passed the Senate unanimously last month but remains in the Assembly Higher Education Committee.)
- Nursing Home-MLTC Rural Demonstration (This legislation would authorize the Commissioner of Health to allow, in one or more rural areas, one or more Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) plans to enroll Medicaid beneficiaries and retain existing enrollees who are permanently placed in a nursing home on a demonstration basis.)
- Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program
- CCRC Revitalization Act
- Hospice in the ALP
- Role of the Nurse in Adult Care Facilities (ACFs)
- SSI Increase for ACFs
Coalition for Safe and Affordable Care Calls on Lawmakers to Oppose Staffing Ratios Legislation
On Wednesday, LeadingAge NY and more than a dozen health organizations comprising the “Coalition for Safe and Affordable Care” issued a letter to lawmakers urging their opposition to the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act. The bill seeks to impose specific staffing ratios for nurses and other direct care staff in hospitals and nursing homes at a cost of approximately $1.06 billion to nursing homes statewide. As the Coalition’s press announcement explains, these inflexible ratios “would undermine real-time patient care decisions, deny hospitals the workforce flexibility they need to respond to emergencies, and disrupt team-based care by crowding out other essential members of the health care team.” Please share the letter with your lawmakers and tell them why this issue is important to you!
Click here to access additional resources to educate your legislators about the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act. LeadingAge NY encourages you to fill out and share our fiscal impact document with your lawmakers as well.
Partners in Quality Award Nomination Form Coming Soon
Finally, with the 2018 Legislative Session drawing to a close, now is the time to thank your lawmakers for their advocacy efforts. LeadingAge NY has created the Partners in Quality Award for you to recognize your federal, state, and local elected officials for their work on behalf of your organization and the individuals you serve. Whether you already have a relationship with a particular lawmaker or want to build a new alliance, the award provides the opportunity to bring public recognition to officeholders who are working to protect New York’s seniors.
The Partners in Quality Award nomination form and further information is forthcoming.
Contacts:
Ami Schnauber, aschnauber@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8854
Jeff Diamond, jdiamond@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8821