Legislative Bulletin: 2020 Advocacy Day Countdown
January 31,2020
The first week of Budget Hearings has come and gone and stakeholders are still awaiting details on the timeline and structure of the Medicaid Redesign Team II (MRT II). Right now, our only certainty is that the team is charged with finding $2.5 billion in State savings.
Lawmakers Press for Details on MRT II at Health Budget Hearing
Hearing Room B of the Legislative Office Building was just about full on Wednesday morning as the Health and Medicaid Joint Legislative Budget Hearing got underway. As in years past, the hearing began with lengthy testimony from Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner, Howard Zucker, and Medicaid Director, Donna Frescatore.
After a few opening words from Dr. Zucker, Senate Health Chair Gustavo Rivera began the legislature’s first round of questioning, quickly airing the concern that has been on the minds of many – the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT II). Senator Rivera emphasized more than once throughout his questioning that “it is January 29th” and neither the members of the MRT or any specifics around the team’s timeline have been announced. He continued by explaining that the legislature recognizes that there is a budget problem and issues around Medicaid that need to be addressed, but he is concerned that the legislature won’t be given the opportunity to help establish solutions. Before concluding his questioning, the Senator turned his focus to the Medicaid Global Cap, asking “do we need to re-visit whether or not the cap is a good idea? And if it is, do we need to re-examine the formula?”
Commissioner Zucker and Director Frescatore received questions from members of the Assembly and the Senate for the next several hours, concluding their testimony just before 2 pm. Then came testimony from the Department of Financial Services, the Medicaid Inspector General, Dennis Rosen, and finally stakeholders. All in all, the hearing lasted just over 11 hours.
Although it was a long wait, LeadingAge New York’s E.V.P. for Innovation Strategies, Karen Lipson, offered testimony to the legislature alongside the Scott Amrhein of the Continuing Care Leadership Coalition (CCLC). In Lipson’s testimony, she highlights the salient points shared in LeadingAge NY’s written testimony. Karen shared LeadingAge NY’s views on the massive demographic shift our state is experiencing as Baby Boomers age and the working population decreases. She noted that the Executive Budget does not address the change, stating that “in fact, instead of preparing for demographic change, the long-term care (LTC) sector has experienced deep Medicaid cuts over the past 2 years.” She continued by explaining that although LTC has “borne the brunt of Medicaid cuts, we’ve been overlooked by healthcare investments - investments through DSRIP and through the healthcare facility transformation grants.”
The Assembly has published video of the entire hearing here. We have also segmented out the testimony from LeadingAge NY, which can be viewed here.
Countdown to Advocacy Day
The February 4th LeadingAge NY/Adult Day Health Care Council Advocacy Day is now just four days away! If you haven’t already, there is still time to register and set up meetings with your legislators or their top staff. As lawmakers begin to develop their one-house budget priorities, they need to know how your organization and those you serve will be impacted. Even if a legislator’s office schedule is full, you can always schedule a time to pull your legislator’s “off the floor” during session.
Draft versions of detailed issue briefs as well as our general budget initiatives brief have been shared with Advocacy Day registered attendees. Final versions will be distributed directly with registrants on Monday morning. LeadingAge New York’s WIN4Seniors handout, general issue brief and all other materials will be published here once they are made available.
If you are not able to come to Albany on Tuesday, we encourage you to use these resources and schedule meetings with your legislators in their district offices. Lawmakers are typically in their district offices on Thursdays and Fridays and will be on recess from Feb. 17th to the 21st. The importance of connecting with your legislators early and often during state budget negotiations cannot be overstated. You can click here to find your legislator and schedule a meeting today!
Advocacy Day attendees who were unable to join the prep call should review the following logistics:
We will be in Meeting Room 5 on the Empire State Plaza in Albany. Parking information can be found here, and a map of the Empire State Plaza Indoor Concourse is available here. LeadingAge NY and the Adult Day Health Care Council will have signs directing attendees to the Meeting Room.
Registration and breakfast will begin at 8 am. We will be set up outside the entrance to Meeting Room 5. Nametags and printed handouts will be provided.
Attendees may leave their coats and belongings in the Meeting Room during legislative meetings.
There will be a short briefing in the morning at 9am.
Lunch will be served from 12 to 1 pm.
The Meeting Room is reserved until 5 pm.
Lastly, when you are attending your meetings, please remember the power of social media! Before, during or after your meetings, we encourage you to connect with your legislators by posting and tagging them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You can thank them for their time, mention issues discussed, and use our hashtags #SupportOurSeniors and #WIN4Seniors. It is also a great idea to take a photo or two to share.
A recording of our full Advocacy Day Prep Call is available here.
LeadingAge New York’s Comprehensive Executive Budget Analysis
This week, LeadingAge NY published a comprehensive budget memo summarizing in detail the health, Medicaid, and housing proposals included in the Governor’s SFY 2020-2021 Executive Budget. The document provides more detailed information on proposals affecting multiple service lines, service line-specific proposals, and other initiatives relevant to aging services providers.
There are several issues of importance to the LeadingAge NY membership that will require advocacy efforts as we head into budget deliberations. We encourage members to review the memo and to participate in our advocacy efforts such as Advocacy Days and visits to our Legislative Action Center.
Affordable Housing Proposal Garners Support at Human Services Hearing
Following the Health/Medicaid hearing this week, on Thursday the legislature held its Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Human Services. The hearing included participation from the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) and many stakeholders. Greg Olson, the Acting Commissioner of NYSOFA, testified at length about the actions New York is taking to address the growing needs of the State’s senior population. A highlight of the hearing was Senator Rachel May’s supportive comments about the Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program. As the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Aging, there was added weight to her comments that the Resident Assistant program could allow seniors to remain independent for longer and save State Medicaid dollars. Additionally, Assembly Member Harry Bronson, Chair of the Assembly Standing Committee on Aging, expressed great interest in finding strategies and programs to save Medicaid dollars – something that the Resident Assistant program would do.
LeadingAge New York is in the process of following up with those legislators who expressed interest in the Resident Assistant program and will continue to build momentum and support for funding the program in this year’s budget. Click here to email your lawmakers and express your support for the Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program!
Joint Legislative Budget Hearings are scheduled to continue over the next 2 weeks, concluding on February 13th. LeadingAge NY is preparing written testimony for the Housing Budget Hearing set for Wednesday, Feb. 5th at 1 pm.
Senate Republicans Announce Bail Reform Taskforce
Senate Republicans on Wednesday announced plans to hold roundtable discussions on the state's new cash bail law, signaling that lawmakers will continue to highlight the issue throughout the state budget season. The law ending cash bail requirements went into effect earlier this month and has caused mounting controversy in the legislature. Several Republican and Democratic lawmakers are calling for reform.
“The Senate Republican Repeal Bail Reform Taskforce will listen to the facts about how this is impacting communities as we continue to fight to repeal this disastrous law", said Senate Minority Leader John Flanagan. The taskforce will host a series of roundtable events, the first of which is scheduled to take place in Buffalo on February 6th. The panel also plans to hold events in Long Island, the Hudson Valley and in Syracuse. Minority Leader Flanagan has appointed Senator George Borrello to chair the task force, along with Senators Patrick Gallivan and Sue Serino.
Contact: Ami Schnauber; 518.867.8854; aschnauber@leadingageny.org
Sarah Daly; 518.867.8845; sdaly@leadingageny.org