Legislative Bulletin: Week Two of February Fridays Starts Now
Week two of February Fridays starts now
For this week’s letter writing campaign, we will focus our advocacy efforts on home care, managed long term care and assisted living. The new letters are located below and on our Legislative Action Center to send to your lawmakers. We also have two letters on our Legislative Action Center related to affordable senior housing and nursing homes. Please take five minutes out of your day today and urge your colleagues and those you serve to join in on this crucial advocacy initiative.
- Support and Restore Funding for Assisted Living: Urge lawmakers to restore funding to historic levels for EQUAL and Enriched Housing and ensure past EnAble and QUIP funds are distributed; extend Capital Restructuring Financing to assisted living providers; and provide funding for UAS-NY implementation.
- Support NY’s Home Care Providers: Urge lawmakers to provide adequate funding for the “Wage Parity” mandate; adequately fund managed care contracts with home health services; extend Capital Restructuring Financing to home care providers; and provide funding for UAS-NY implementation.
- Support Plans and Providers Through the MLTC Transition: Urge lawmakers to ensure adequacy of premium rates; adequately fund managed care contracts with home health services; provide adequate funding to cover the “Wage Parity” mandate; and provide funding for UAS-NY implementation.
Last week’s letter writing campaign focused on nursing home and housing budget priorities. To date, 115 letters have been sent. If you haven’t sent your letter yet, please do so today. If you need assistance with this advocacy opportunity, please contact Alyssa Lovelace.
NY receives its Medicaid Waiver from the Federal Government
Gov. Cuomo announced yesterday that New York has reached agreement with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on its Medicaid Waiver and will receive $8 billion out of the $10 billion it requested. This will allow the state to reinvest funds generated by the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) reforms over a period of five years. Moneys will be invested in the State’s healthcare system and distressed hospitals.
In an effort to inform members about the MRT Waiver Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program, LeadingAge New York is joining with HANYS, HCA, CHCANYS and the Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS) to host an educational and networking event on Mon., Feb. 24. with designated in-person locations throughout the state. A New York City-based session is forthcoming, tentatively planned for the first week of March.
A clear theme of the DSRIP is collaboration with other types of providers, and now that the waiver has been approved we anticipate a relatively short time to prepare applications and collaborate with community partners. The program will include a presentation on the proposed MRT waiver by the Department of Health and examples of successful multi-provider collaborations. After the broadcast, locally-facilitated conversations on collaboration will occur at each of the viewing sites. Through this joint effort, members will have the opportunity to network with a variety of provider types, including hospitals, primary care and behavioral health providers. Members are strongly encouraged to participate. Click here for more information about the event. Registration is now available online – all participants must register.
Lawmakers are in their districts awaiting your input on budget priorities
The State Legislature has adjourned for break week and legislators will be in their districts until Mon., Feb. 24. This provides a great opportunity for you to request a meeting with your representatives in their district offices to discuss your state budget concerns before they return to pass a final budget.
Once legislators return to Albany, they will work on their one-house budget bills, which will reflect each houses’ priorities for the final budget, followed by the commencing of Joint Budget Conference Committees in mid-March. We need to ensure that our concerns are reflected in the Assembly and Senate one-house budget proposals and lawmakers and central staff are aware of our recommendations for final budget negotiations. We are anticipating yet another early budget agreement, prior to the April 1 deadline.
Please take time to schedule meetings with your representatives for next week. Bring along board members, staff, employees, residents – anyone who can help tell your organization’s story. Your advocacy efforts will be critical as we move towards a final budget. You can find legislators’ contact information here. Click here for LeadingAge New York’s Issue brief outlining our top 10 budget priorities. Please contact Alyssa Lovelace if you need assistance with your advocacy efforts.
The PAC Golf Tournament is back!
The annual LeadingAge New York PAC Golf Tournament is back at Saratoga Spa Golf Course on Mon., June 16. Shotgun start will be at 12:45 sharp!
In addition to the PAC’s traditional 18-hole tournament, we will once again host a pro-clinic and 9-hole tournament for those who have not golfed with us in the past or want to try out the sport. Keep an eye on your inbox for sponsorship opportunities and registration.