Legislative Bulletin: Session Nears Its End
CCRC Cybersecurity and Hospice in the ALP Bills Advance to Assembly Floor Calendar
As the June 20th end date for the 2018 Legislative Session inched closer this week, lawmakers in Albany raced to introduce last-minute legislation and begin wrapping up outstanding issues. LeadingAge NY is pleased to report that two of our key bills once again advanced in the Assembly, though we will need your advocacy to ensure that these and our other initiatives are addressed before the Legislature adjourns. At this point, please call your lawmakers directly to discuss our issues, and let them know how your organization and the individuals you serve will be impacted. We then encourage you to follow up your calls by sending them our pre-written letters and social media messages.
- DFS-Compliant Cybersecurity Policy for CCRCs: On Wednesday, A.10486-B (Cahill)/S.7940-B (Seward), legislation that would allow continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) to adopt written cybersecurity policies and self-certify that such policies are not inconsistent with the goals of the cybersecurity regulations promulgated by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) last year, advanced to the Assembly Floor Calendar. As LeadingAge NY reported last week, the bill has been placed on the Senate Floor Calendar as well, where it is currently awaiting a vote. To send your lawmakers a pre-written letter, tweet, or Facebook post urging them to support this important legislation, please click here. LeadingAge NY’s memo of support can also be accessed here.
- Hospice in the ALP: On Thursday, A.10459-A (Lupardo)/S.8353-A (Hannon), a bill that would enable terminally ill Assisted Living Program (ALP) residents to access hospice services without having to transfer from the ALP, also advanced to the Assembly Floor Calendar. Despite this activity in the Assembly, the bill has not yet moved out of the Senate Health Committee. We need you to continue engaging with your legislators and encouraging their support! Click here to connect with them via email and social media and here to review LeadingAge NY’s memo of support.
Join LeadingAge NY for Final Advocacy Push on Other Key Initiatives
As the CCRC cybersecurity and hospice in the ALP bills continue to move through the Legislature, LeadingAge NY asks that you join us for one final advocacy push on our other priorities as well:
- Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program
- This legislation, which would establish a dedicated Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program to bolster New York’s commitment of $125 million for senior housing capital and create a cost-effective model for seniors to age in place, is currently in the Assembly Housing and Senate Finance Committees. LeadingAge NY has identified several lawmakers on those committees for targeted advocacy efforts and has prepared the following tweets for you to share on your platforms:
Assembly Housing Committee
.@LindaBRosenthal Please help seniors in your district age in place by co-sponsoring A.10017-A/S.7866-A to create a dedicated Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program & urging Assemblyman Cymbrowitz to move the bill out of the Housing Committee! #SupportOurSeniors
.@CnDelarosa Please help seniors in your district age in place by co-sponsoring A.10017-A/S.7866-A to create a dedicated Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program & urging Assemblyman Cymbrowitz to move the bill out of the Housing Committee! #SupportOurSeniors
.@yuhline Please help seniors in your district age in place by co-sponsoring A.10017-A/S.7866-A to create a dedicated Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program & urging Assemblyman Cymbrowitz to move the bill out of the Housing Committee! #SupportOurSeniors
Senate Finance Committee
.@SenatorYoung Please help seniors in your district age in place by co-sponsoring A.10017-A/S.7866-A to create a dedicated Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program & moving the bill out of the Finance Committee! #SupportOurSeniors
.@JohnBonacic Please help seniors in your district age in place by co-sponsoring A.10017-A/S.7866-A to create a dedicated Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program & urging Senator Young to move the bill out of the Finance Committee! #SupportOurSeniors
.@SenatorGallivan Please help seniors in your district age in place by co-sponsoring A.10017-A/S.7866-A to create a dedicated Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program & urging Senator Young to move the bill out of the Finance Committee! #SupportOurSeniors
.@SenGriffo Please help seniors in your district age in place by co-sponsoring A.10017-A/S.7866-A to create a dedicated Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program & urging Senator Young to move the bill out of the Finance Committee! #SupportOurSeniors
.@SenatorLarkin Please help seniors in your district age in place by co-sponsoring A.10017-A/S.7866-A to create a dedicated Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program & urging Senator Young to move the bill out of the Finance Committee! #SupportOurSeniors
.@KathyMarchione Please help seniors in your district age in place by co-sponsoring A.10017-A/S.7866-A to create a dedicated Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program & urging Senator Young to move the bill out of the Finance Committee! #SupportOurSeniors
.@SenatorOMara Please help seniors in your district age in place by co-sponsoring A.10017-A/S.7866-A to create a dedicated Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program & urging Senator Young to move the bill out of the Finance Committee! #SupportOurSeniors
.@SenatorRitchie Please help seniors in your district age in place by co-sponsoring A.10017-A/S.7866-A to create a dedicated Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program & urging Senator Young to move the bill out of the Finance Committee! #SupportOurSeniors
.@SenatorRobach Please help seniors in your district age in place by co-sponsoring A.10017-A/S.7866-A to create a dedicated Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program & urging Senator Young to move the bill out of the Finance Committee! #SupportOurSeniors
.@SenatorSeward Please help seniors in your district age in place by co-sponsoring A.10017-A/S.7866-A to create a dedicated Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program & urging Senator Young to move the bill out of the Finance Committee! #SupportOurSeniors
- Medication Aides in St. Lawrence County Nursing Homes
- Role of the Nurse in Adult Care Facilities (ACFs)
- SSI Increase for ACFs
- Nursing Home-MLTC Rural Demonstration
- Introduced at LeadingAge NY’s request, A.10688 (Jones)/S.8488 (Little) 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. Please call your lawmakers today and urge them to sign on as co-sponsors!
- CCRC Revitalization Act
- Staffing Ratios
- With the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) continuing its multimedia ad campaign in support of the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act through next week, it is especially important for lawmakers to hear your perspective on this issue. LeadingAge NY remains strongly opposed to this legislation, which would 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. Our staffing ratios cost template, which you can use to determine the estimated financial impact of the bill on your facility, can be accessed here.
Partners in Quality Award Nominations Due by July 31st
Lastly, as the Legislature prepares to adjourn for the remainder of the year, LeadingAge NY is encouraging members to continue engaging with their lawmakers and consider nominating them for a 2018 Partners in Quality Award. Whether you already have a relationship with a particular official or want to build a new alliance, the Partners in Quality Award provides the opportunity to bring public recognition to state, federal, and local officeholders who are working to protect New York’s seniors.
Click here to download the nomination form. All nominations should be emailed to Jeff Diamond at jdiamond@leadingageny.org or faxed to 518-867-8384 by Tues., July 31st. Award recipients will be notified in August, with presentations taking place throughout the fall.
Contacts:
Ami Schnauber, aschnauber@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8854
Jeff Diamond, jdiamond@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8821