Legislative Bulletin: Lawmakers Returning from Recess to Critical Budget Talks
Lawmakers Returning from Recess to Critical Budget Talks
After a weeklong recess, lawmakers in the Assembly and Senate will return to Albany on Tuesday to begin a critical stretch of the budget process. Governor Cuomo, legislative leaders, and fiscal aides have until March 1st to develop a consensus forecast for revenue that will form the basis for budget negotiations. Both chambers are actively developing their one-house budget bills, which will represent their priorities going into negotiations. These bills are expected to be passed on or before March 14th.
During the recess, LeadingAge NY staff met with Assembly and Senate Majority fiscal and program staff to discuss key budget issues and offer budget language related to our concerns. We are continuing to push legislators on these issues as well, but we need them to hear from their constituents in order to be successful.
A strong advocacy effort over the next several weeks is therefore essential. If our issues are not addressed in at least one of the one-house bills, it is highly unlikely that they will be part of the final enacted budget. LeadingAge NY is asking that you take a few minutes to engage with your lawmakers on our top budget priorities through email, Facebook, and Twitter:
- Capital Funding for the LTPAC Sector
- Support ACF and Assisted Living Providers that Serve Low-Income Seniors
- MLTC Rate Adequacy, LHCSA Contract Limits, and Provider Marketing/Referral Bans
- Support High-Quality Nursing Home Care for Vulnerable New Yorkers
- Senior Housing Resident Service Advisor Program
We are also working to coordinate group member meetings in key lawmakers’ district offices over the coming month. Many legislators represent a large number of long term care providers and should be encouraged to be champions on our issues. We want to show them the economic and social impact that our providers have in their community. Please consider coordinating a similar effort in your region and reach out to Ami Schnauber or Jeff Diamond if you would like to work together on this initiative.
Reminder to Join LeadingAge NY for Advocacy Day Prep Call on March 2nd
Will you be participating in LeadingAge NY’s March 6th Advocacy Day on housing, adult care facility (ACF), assisted living, aging services program, and Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) issues? If so, you will not want to miss our attendee prep call next week! Please join us on Fri., March 2nd from 11 am to 12 pm as we go over our updated issue briefs, important event logistics, and any outstanding questions. To participate in the call, please dial 1-888-585-9008 and enter the Conference Room code: 821-898-111. Materials will be emailed to all registered attendees prior to the call.
Members who are interested in signing up for our March 6th Advocacy Day may do so here. We look forward to seeing you in Albany!
Time is Running Out to Schedule Advocacy Day Meetings
With our March 6th Advocacy Day now just a week and a half away, LeadingAge NY is encouraging all attendees to contact their legislators as soon as possible to set up meetings. This day is a particularly valuable opportunity for you to discuss your budget priorities and concerns, since one-house budget bills are expected to be passed the following week. Your story and your conversations in these meetings can make a difference!
As a reminder: if your lawmakers are not available for a formal meeting on Advocacy Day, you can always inquire about speaking with them “off the floor” (outside the Assembly or Senate Chamber) or meeting with their top staff. Those who are unable to be in Albany can request an appointment back in the district as well.
Once you have confirmed your meetings, please email your schedule to Jeff Diamond at jdiamond@leadingageny.org.
Senate Health Committee to Consider TBI/NHTD Managed Care Carve-Out Bill on Tuesday
This coming Tuesday, the Senate Health Committee will consider A.2442 (Gottfried)/S.1870 (Hannon), legislation that would make the two-year delay of the transition of the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) waivers into Medicaid managed care a permanent carve-out. Members may recall that last year’s health budget agreement included a side letter in which the Department of Health (DOH) agreed to delay the TBI/NHTD waiver transition for an additional year, until Jan. 1, 2019. LeadingAge NY strongly supports this bill, and we encourage you to contact your lawmakers and urge them to do the same. There are no cost savings associated with moving TBI/NHTD into managed care, and given the significant programmatic changes absorbed by Medicaid managed care and Managed Long Term Care plans in recent years, we believe that the interests of all stakeholders would be best served by focusing on current populations and benefits.
To urge your legislators’ support for this critical bill through email and social media, please click here. LeadingAge NY’s memo of support is also accessible here.
State Medicaid Director Jason Helgerson to Step Down in April
Earlier this week, the Governor’s Office confirmed that State Medicaid Director Jason Helgerson will step down from his position in April, once this year’s budget is finalized. Helgerson was recruited by the Cuomo administration in 2011 to oversee the State’s Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) after leading a similar effort in Wisconsin. In an interview with City & State published on Wednesday, he commented that while his future plans are still unclear, he would like to be focused on “the future of health care, new delivery models, [and] supporting organizations and providers moving to the value-based world.”
Action Alert: Sign On to Letter Urging Congress to Support Affordable Housing and Community Development Programs
With President Trump’s FY 2019 budget request proposing steep cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), LeadingAge is working with other national housing and community development organizations on a letter urging Congress to ensure that “affordable housing and community development programs receive the highest allocation of discretionary funds possible.”
Released on Feb. 12th, the President’s budget proposal is the first step in the FY 2019 funding cycle. One of the critical next steps is for the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to divide total funding amounts among the 12 appropriations subcommittees. The sign-on letter asks lawmakers to give the Subcommittees on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies sufficient funding to address the nation’s growing housing and community development needs.
LeadingAge National and LeadingAge NY encourage members to sign on to the letter today. The deadline to do so is Fri., March 16th.
LeadingAge NY Issues Detailed Summary of Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018
This week, LeadingAge NY published a memo summarizing the health- and long term care-related provisions of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump on Feb. 9th. Notable provisions include the repeal of Medicare Part B therapy caps, changes to Medicare payments for nursing homes and home health agencies, expansion of covered telehealth services, and changes allowing Medicare Advantage plans to offer supplemental benefits.
The two-year budget agreement covering FY 2018 (the current year) and FY 2019 includes funding to operate the federal government until March 23rd.
PEAK Hill Visits Now Less Than One Month Away
Lastly, we are now less than one month away from the LeadingAge PEAK Leadership Summit in Washington, DC. Please register today, if you haven’t already! LeadingAge NY staff will be attending and participating in a full day of visits with the New York congressional delegation on Wed., March 21st. While specific agenda items have yet to be announced, one key topic will be a Feb. 14th letter from a group of Democratic senators to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma urging the Trump administration to reverse its recent nursing home regulatory relief actions. LeadingAge NY is disappointed that Senator Gillibrand was one of the 12 signatories and plans to address this in our meeting with her office.
Contacts:
Ami Schnauber, aschnauber@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8854
Jeff Diamond, jdiamond@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8821