LeadingAge NY Advocates for Long Term Care Settings in First Meeting of Nurses Across NY Stakeholder Workgroup
On July 12th, LeadingAge NY participated in the first stakeholder workgroup meeting for the Nurses Across New York (NANY) loan repayment program established in the recently enacted State budget. This first meeting provided some general overview of the NANY program as well as data regarding the nursing workforce statewide. The budget appropriated $2,500,000 this year to support loan repayment for both registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs).
LeadingAge NY was asked to participate in this group and took the opportunity to highlight the dire need for nurses in all of our member settings. We urged that long term care settings – including nursing homes, home care, adult day health care, and assisted living – be included as "underserved areas" in which nurses could work for three years to qualify for the loan repayment program. LeadingAge NY highlighted the particular challenges in nursing homes, given the high reliance on Medicaid dollars and the implementation of the minimum nurse staffing requirement. Lastly, we noted the growing older population in New York, suggesting the need for nurses in this sector will only grow.
The State is looking for input on a variety of questions, including whether the program should prioritize current or future nurses, if a certain percentage of the funding should be dedicated to RNs versus LPNs, and what constitutes a hardship that would enable someone to not have to pay the loan back. We welcome member input on any of these questions.
The stakeholder workgroup will meet two more times, with the goal of having developed an application for the program by Sept. 30, 2022.
Click here for the overview of the program and here for a presentation from the Center for Health Workforce Studies highlighting the data available regarding nurses and need in the state.
Contact: Diane Darbyshire, ddarbyshire@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8828