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LeadingAge NY Meets with State Officials, Other Stakeholders on Paid Family Leave

LeadingAge NY was among the health care and other stakeholder groups invited to attend a roundtable with state officials on Nov. 10th in New York City to discuss the paid family leave program that was enacted into law as part of the 2016-17 state budget. The primary purpose of the meeting was to discuss how best to engage the health care sector to raise awareness of the newly passed paid family and medical leave in New York State. Health care providers obviously have routine contact with potential beneficiaries of the program, including pregnant women, those with serious illnesses, and their family caregivers.

Under the program, beginning in January 2018, employees who are employed for at least six months will be eligible to earn up to 50 percent of their average weekly wage — not to exceed 50 percent of the statewide average weekly wage — while on leave to care for an ill relative, to bond with a newborn child, or when a family member is called to active military duty. Once the program is fully phased in by 2021, employees will be eligible to earn 67 percent of their average weekly wage, capped at 67 percent of the statewide average weekly wage. The program will be funded by employee paycheck deductions, currently estimated at $1-1.50 per employee per week, with the maximum contribution being set by the Department of Financial Services (DFS).

State officials reported that regulations authorizing the program have been drafted and will be published in the next few weeks for public comment. Involved state agencies – including DFS and the Workers’ Compensation Board – are working through various issues with insurers and the business community prior to release of the regulations. The regulations will reportedly clarify that family leave must be taken in full-day increments, and that employees will need to obtain physician authorizations to attest to eligibility for leave.

The state is planning a media campaign beginning in 2017 to increase awareness of the program and reach as many workers, patients, and family members as possible. A statewide helpline will be established to provide information and answer questions on the program following issuance of the regulations.

Contact: Dan Heim, dheim@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8866