The New York State budget for fiscal year 2023-24 approved in Albany this week provides desperately needed Medicaid rate increases to hospitals, nursing homes, and Assisted Living Programs. However, due to 15 years of inaction, increases in cost of care, regulatory requirements, and a statewide health care workforce crisis, the 7.5 percent Medicaid rate increase provided to nursing homes is not enough to ensure access to care.

Not-for-profit and public nursing homes led by LeadingAge NY have filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn two state laws imposing arbitrary minimum staffing and spending levels during a declared statewide health care workforce emergency that has triggered the deployment of the National Guard.

By enacting a law that is impossible for more than 80 percent of the state's nursing homes to comply with, Governor Hochul and the Legislature have made a false promise to nursing home residents, LeadingAge NY President and CEO Jim Clyne says in a new statement.

LeadingAge NY is calling on the State Legislature to reject a proposal in Governor Hochul’s budget that, if implemented, would disrupt the delivery of specialized MLTC services to older adults and people with disabilities.

The needs of older New Yorkers and a focused plan of action to address a workforce crisis in the long-term care sector are clear signs of engagement and understanding from Governor Kathy Hochul as she outlined her priorities for 2022, according to LeadingAge NY.

LeadingAge NY is urging Governor Kathy Hochul to provide an immediate Medicaid rate increase to New York’s nursing homes to enable them to staff their facilities appropriately, deliver high-quality care to their residents, and relieve hospital overcrowding.

LeadingAge NY is urging Governor Kathy Hochul to provide an immediate Medicaid rate increase to New York’s nursing homes to enable them to staff their facilities appropriately, deliver high-quality care to their residents, and relieve hospital overcrowding.

LeadingAge NY testified before the Public Health and Health Planning Council on Oct. 7^th and offered its recommendations to enhance care and services within the long-term care sector, calling its perspective a “dose of reality.”