Legislative Bulletin: Final Budget Negotiations Underway

Final Budget Negotiations Underway
The Senate and Assembly released their one-house budget bills, earlier this week, and adopted their one-house budget resolutions on Thursday. Click here to read an outline of the Senate’s budget proposals and here for the Assembly’s. The General Budget Conference Committee met yesterday afternoon, paving the way for the joint budget conference subcommittees to begin their work toward negotiating a final budget. The General Conference Committee anticipates on on-time, April 1 budget for the fifth straight year.

With only 9 legislative session days left to come to a final budget agreement, we must ensure that long term care and aging services providers’ concerns are addressed. We urge you, your colleagues and those you serve to participate in LeadingAge NY’s March Monday Virtual Lobby Days, and engage with lawmakers on a grassroots level. There are several key budget concerns impacting various providers. Please use our advocacy materials listed below to help develop your organization’s “ask.” Be sure to tell your legislators the impact that these proposals will have on your organization, the individuals you serve and the people you employ. We encourage you to focus on one or more of the following issues:

For your convenience, we have developed a number of materials to help you plan your Virtual Lobby Day – visit our March Monday website to access these materials. To access your legislator's contact information, click here, enter your information and select "find legislators." Once you've contacted your legislators, please fill out the response form, and return it to Alyssa Lovelace via email at alovelace@leadingageny.org or fax to 518-867-8384. Don't forget to indicate on your response form if you want to be included in the drawing to win $100! The two winners will be announced in April!

Comptroller Issues Medicaid Report
Comptroller Tom DiNapoli issued a report on Thursday, “Medicaid in New York: The Continuing Challenge to Improve Care and Control Costs.” The report highlights the Medicaid Redesign Team’s initiatives and finds that keeping growth at 2 percent has “worked well, but Medicaid expenses still are on track to rise $700 million annually for the next four years.” Access the report here.

Save the Dates!
LeadingAge NY will once again host Advocacy Days for Adult Care Facility (ACF) and Assisted Living providers, as well as Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) in April. Please be sure to save the following dates – registration will be available soon.

ACF/AL Advocacy Day: Tues., April 21, 2015, Albany, NY
CCRC Advocacy Day: Tues., April 28, Albany, NY

Get Out Your Golf Clubs!
It’s hard to imagine that the snow will ever melt, but in just two short months, we will be on the golf course yet again for the LeadingAge NY PAC Golf Tournament! Join us on Mon., May 18 at the Ballston Spa Country Club for a day of golf, prizes and networking. Registration and sponsorship opportunities are now available online. Join us for breakfast and contests beginning at 10 a.m., followed by an 18-hole tournament and driving range and pro-clinic for those who just want to do a bit of practicing. Not a golfer? Not to worry, you can make your PAC contribution here.

Contact: Alyssa Lovelace, alovelace@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8844