ACTION ALERT: Urge Governor to Reform and Rationalize the Nursing Home Medicaid Program!

LeadingAge NY is urging Governor Hochul to fully fund and reform nursing home Medicaid reimbursement by 2025, with an initial investment of $510 million into the Medicaid rate in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2024-25. The Executive Budget Proposal for 2024-25 will be announced on Jan. 16, 2024. With five weeks left of pre-budget advocacy, NOW is a critical time to get the Governor’s attention!

LeadingAge NY has several resources available to bolster our unified advocacy voice and expand our network of advocates. Members are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to use the below tools as much as possible over the next six weeks:

1. Digital Letter-Writing Campaign – Please make sure that you send a digital advocacy letter to the Governor and consistently remind your network of advocates to do the same!

There are six different digital letters available:

• Provider Letter – YOU can send this letter NOW!
• Board Members – Send an email to your board members TODAY and urge them to take action. You can remind them to do this every few weeks.
• Family Members of Residents – Send an email to your resident families TODAY and urge them to take action. Make a note that inadequate Medicaid funding impacts residents and the ability to hire and retain staff.
• Residents – Encourage residents and resident councils to help us advocate for better funding for their care!
• Staff – Inform staff, if you have not already, about your organization’s reliance on Medicaid and why Medicaid impacts your ability to recruit and retain more staff. Encourage them to use their voice and take action with this digital letter-writing campaign!
• General Constituent – Send an email to your network of volunteers and donors and ask them to take action!

2. Family Advocacy Flyer – Print this advocacy flyer and have it available in lobby areas or share it in conversations with families to educate them on your organization's challenges. The flyer could also be shared electronically as an email attachment or link.

3. Nursing Home Social Media Toolkit – Use these social media pre-written messages, graphics, and tips to help drive more people to take action and capture the Governor’s attention in the public sphere.

• Pre-written messages, “tips” for usage, and links to suggested graphics are here.
• NEW graphics are available here.

Additional nursing home budget advocacy resources are available on the LeadingAge NY Advocacy website here. 

*Advocacy in Action* One member has set up multiple “advocacy desks” in their entry areas to help visitors and staff easily take action. The desks have printed materials as well as laptops/tablets where advocates can enter their information and quickly contact the Governor. Feel free to get creative in your advocacy and make it easy for your community to feel invested in our fight for better funding!

We know how busy you are caring for your residents and operating your home, but taking a few minutes to share these resources with your executive and communications teams NOW will help ensure that the Governor hears our call for reform loud and clear! Thank you in advance for your advocacy.

Contact: Sarah Daly, sdaly@leadingageny.org