Legislative Bulletin: Executive Budget Proposal Released

2015-16 Budget Released
Gov. Cuomo released his Executive Budget for 2015-16 in his annual State of the State Address this past Wednesday. The flurry of action is a result of the rescheduled State of the State Address due to the death of the Governor’s father, former Governor Mario Cuomo, and the accelerated release of the State budget. LeadingAge NY is in the process of developing an in-depth analysis of the Governor’s Budget proposal, which will be sent to members next Wed., Jan. 28. Some highlights of significance to aging and senior services providers, include:

$1.4 billion in additional capital funding for health care providers;
an additional $3.8 billion in Medicaid funding, increasing funding from $58.2 billion to $62 billion;
a disaster preparedness and/or Energy Efficiency Demonstration program for residential health care facilities;
an additional $290 million for the Vital Access Provider (VAP) funding;
a proposal that included statutory changes to implement value based payment reform under the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment Program (DSRIP);
$254 million in MRT Affordable Housing funds;
$1.3 million for the administration of the criminal history record check system for adult care facilities;
the repeal of the EQUAL program and a reprogramming of half the funding of $3.26 million to support the move of adult home residents to supportive community housing; and
an Advanced Home Health Aide (AHHA) proposal, which would establish a certification process and scope of services for AHHAs.

This is just a brief synopsis of a few of the proposals that are included in the Governor’s budget proposals, and provide a clear indication of why we need a strong voice at our Advocacy Day on Feb. 10. Hinman Straub, LeadingAge NY’s legislative counsel, developed this document outlining proposals that will impact aging and senior services providers. Please note that you will need your LeadingAge NY log-in and password to access this document.

Make sure your voice is heard in Albany during budget negotiations. To ensure that aging and senior services are properly represented during the budget process, we urge you to join us in Albany for the LeadingAge New York/Adult Day Health Care Council/Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State Annual Advocacy Day on Tues., Feb. 10. We will be meeting with lawmakers to discuss the Governor’s Executive Budget proposals outlined above and in budget documents that LeadingAge NY is in the process of developing. Registration, an agenda and logistical information is available on the Advocacy Day website.

In preparation of Advocacy Day, we will host a budget review/Advocacy Day conference call on Fri., Feb. 6 at 10:30 a.m. for Advocacy Day participants. Details will be sent to Advocacy Day registrants and members next week. In the meantime, if you need assistance with scheduling legislative meetings, have difficulty with registration or need specific accommodations, please do not hesitate to contact Alyssa Lovelace at 518-441-5111. If you have not already registered for Advocacy Day, you may do so here.

LeadingAge NY, Other Associations Call for Delay in E-prescribing Implementation
LeadingAge NY, along with 17 other associations sent a letter to Acting Health Commissioner Howard Zucker, requesting a one year delay in implementation of the e-prescribing mandate that was enacted into law as part of I-STOP legislation. The letter also requested that nursing homes and assisted living providers be excluded from the requirements under this law for prescriptions furnished in these settings, as well as financial support for acquisition and deployment of EHR technology by nursing homes and assisted living facilities, which were not eligible for meaningful use incentives and most HEAL-NY technology funding. The mandate is set to take effect on March 27, 2015. We urge nursing home and assisted living providers to contact their lawmakers, urging them to delay the implementation of this mandate.

Senate Republicans Release Committee Assignments
With a new legislative session and newly elected officials, brings new legislative committee assignments! Of note is the new chairwoman of the Senate Aging Committee – Sen. Sue Serino of Hyde Park. Sen. Serino said in a statement released yesterday, “It is essential that we, as lawmakers, work together on behalf of our state’s seniors and this committee will be the perfect vehicle to do just that.” Read the Senator’s biography here. Sen. Kemp Hannon of Long Island remains the chairman of the Senate Health Committee, and Sen. Cathy Young of Western NY, remains the chairwoman of the Senate Housing Committee. Click here for a complete list of committee assignments.

Speaker of the State Assembly Arrested
Speaker of the New York State Assembly, Sheldon Silver, was arrested on corruption charges, early yesterday morning. The complaint is available here. The Speaker is accused of accepting millions of dollars in kickbacks between 2000 and 2015. Silver has served as Speaker of the Assembly since 2004. Click here for recent developments. His democratic colleagues conferenced yesterday and indicated that they would continue to support their Speaker.