We pulled out all the stops last week to organize a Day of Action to bolster efforts on increasing funding to Independent Living Centers and Access to Home in the final state budget. In cooperation with CDANY we dropped off materials at every single office of the legislature, joined Fair Pay for Home Care outside Governor Hochul's office, and held visibility actions outside the Assembly and Senate Chambers. We're continuing to urge everyone to make calls in support of our priorities, Access to Home and Independent Living Funding. Thank you to all the advocates who either joined us in Albany or amplified our messaging virtually!

We could not accomplish all our advocacy work without our Public Policy subcommittees: Education, Election Reform, Employment, Health, Housing, and Transportation. Due to several retirements within several committees now is the time to be part of the change you want to see! If you are interested in participating in a committee fill out this sign-up form.

Independent Living (IL) Funding

 Medicaid Redesign Team II (MRT2) Activities of Daily Living (ADL) eligibility: The Senate funds repealing the “Assisted Daily Living eligibility” change with $277M. Additional sponsors have signed onto the bill repealing this harmful reduction in eligibility for home care but inclusion in the budget would be ideal.

Consumer Directed Personal Assistance (CDPA):

o  Assembly and Senate both reject the Executive’s proposal to repeal the Fiscal Intermediary (FI) procurement process.

o  Assembly and Senate reject the Executive proposal to eliminate wage parity provisions for CDPAP.

Fair Pay for Home Care, maintaining and increasing home care wages –

o  Assembly: Rejects the Executive’s proposal to decouple the minimum wage increases from the home care minimum wage. The Assembly also supports the concept, through their resolution, providing oversight of insurance company contracts to the Comptroller, as well as other concepts to hold insurers accountable for distributing public funds.

o  Senate: Rejects the Executive’s proposal to decouple the minimum wage increases from the home care minimum wage and adds $2 in increases, $1 per year in 2024 and 2025. Also requires the Department of Health (DOH) to make state-directed payments to providers for the purposes of supporting wage increases and allow the Comptroller to review contracts between managed care organizations and licensed home care services agencies, FIs, or any agencies subject to the home care minimum wage increase.,

Medicaid Buy-In: The Senate supports the Governor’s proposal in their one-house budget. The Assembly proposes to modify the Executive proposal to provide limitations on monthly premium payments, at 8.5% in line with the Affordable Care Act premiums. We're very pleased that eligibility is very likely to expand in the final budget proposal.

Access To Home is included in both house budgets. The Assembly includes a $1 million increase, and the Senate includes a $3 million increase! Still short of our request of $10 million, but a positive development.

Check out this interview with NYAIL’s Director of Advocacy Alex Thompson, along with Aaron Baier, Director of Administration with the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley in Troy.

55-b and 55-c: The Assembly rejects the Executive proposal to increase the number of positions in the 55-b program from 1,200 to 1,700 and to authorize the transfer of employees in 55-b or 55-c positions who meet minimum requirements to competitive class titles without examination. The Senate accepted the proposal and we have advocated for the inclusion of the proposal in the final budget.

On March 22, NYAIL’s Social Work Coordinator for the Open Doors Money Follows the Person Project Laurie Carter presented: “Managing Your Mental Health and Preventing Burnout”. Thank you to the 139 registered attendees. Laurie shared with us some great tips, ranging from yoga/deep breathing to being very intentional about taking time for yourself. A recording is now available.

The recording for February’s webinar on the NY Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Program is now available. Thanks to Jenna McClosky for presenting on some exciting changes. Click here to view the recording.

Disability Day of Mourning was March 1st. This year we remembered all of those who lost their lives in 2022 due to filicide and highlighted a few New Yorkers. The event was held in collaboration with Not Dead Yet and the Center for Disability Rights. A recording is available on our YouTube channel.

We have several committee chairs who have decided to retire. Monica Bartley with the Center for Independents of the Disabled NY (CIDNY) retired in February. For several years she chaired our Election Reform Committee. This month Health Committee Chair Heidi Siegfried (CIDNY), along with Employment Committee Chair Frank Pennisi with the Southern Tier Independence Center are also retiring. We cannot thank them enough for their advocacy and leadership over the years.

Do you have anything you would like us to promote in our newsletter or on social media? Please send any materials to NYAIL’s Communications Specialist Blaise Bryant.

NYAIL administers several statewide and regional programs in collaboration with its member ILCs, all of which are focused on helping people with disabilities live independently in the community.

Learn more about NYAIL's program by visiting: ilny.us/programs 

Newsletter ideas can be sent to bbryant@ilny.org for consideration.

Email: lmiller@ilny.org

Director of Advocacy  

Email: athompson@ilny.org

Email: bbryant@ilny.org