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 In This Issue |
On March 31 the Legislature passed the final 2018-2019 budget bills. Below are some of the major points discussed in the budget. Click
HERE
for a more detailed account.
OPWDD
- #bFair2DirectCare: The final budget contains $191 million to support the second year of the request. The final budget does not include any additional funding for the #bFair2DirectCare spin up or the Senate language that commits to funding the remaining four years of our six-year plan.
- Development, Housing: The budget will provide $120 million in additional funding available for "Program Priorities," including new service opportunities with $20 million reserved for "individuals living at home and whose caregivers are increasingly unable to provide care for them."
- CCOs/Health Homes: $39 million to support the transition from OPWDD's Medicaid Service Coordination program to a comprehensive care coordination model.
- Managed Care: New language is included requiring OPWDD to assess the quality and outcomes of managed care for individuals with I/DD including their experience and satisfaction, and report to the Legislature by December 31, 2022.
- Telehealth/Telemedicine: Agreement requires that a single guidance document for telehealth is created which includes certified and non-certified day and residential programs funded or operated by OPWDD.
- Psych/Social Work Licensure: Changes were made to ensure that non-licensed staff will be able to continue to do their work without significant changes.
- First Responder Training: Establishes a First Responder Training Program to provide instruction and information to police, firefighters and emergency medical services personnel.
SED
- No additional funding for 4410 and 853 teacher recruitment and retention.
DOH
- Early Intervention: Governor's proposal regarding EI was rejected. No cuts or increases for EI.
- Clinic Billing for TBI: Proposal for clinics to bill up to the full Medicaid rate for TBI patients covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
- TBI and Managed Care: Final budget delays the TBI/NHTD waiver transition to Managed Long Term Care until 2022.
- Health Facility Transformation Fund: $525 million allowing facilities to "transition into fiscally sustainable systems." It also supports capital projects, debt retirement, working capital and other non-capital needs.
OMH
- #bFair2DirectCare: Additional 3.25% for 100, 200 & 300 codes effective 4-1-18.
- School Mental Health Resource and Training Center: $1 million for this initiative to support the implementation of last year's legislation that requires mental health related education in schools.
- Mental Health/Primary Care Integration: Article 28, 31, and 32 clinics may provide integrated primary care, mental health/or substance abuse when authorized to do so by OMH or OASAS.
- OMH as Representative Payee: Extend the authority of OMH facility directors to act as a representative payee for 3 years.
- Children's Behavioral Health Funding: $10 million for children's behavioral health capital funding and $30 million over two years to move forward with the children's behavioral health move to managed care.
OTHER
- State and Municipal Facilities Program: $475 million which will be distributed by Senators, Assembly members and the Governor to municipalities.
For questions or further information, please contact Barbra Crosier at 518-436-0178 or
[email protected]
.
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JOIN US FOR WEEKLY COPA LEGISLATIVE UPDATES!
The COPA legislative team - Barbara Crosier of CP of NYS, JR Drexelius of DDAWNY, and Wini Schiff of IAC - started a weekly legislative briefing call beginning March 26! These weekly Monday morning calls at 11:00 am will run through the end of the NYS Legislative Session in June. When the Legislative Session is over, the calls will be continued on a monthly basis or more often as needed.
Each week at 11:00 am you can join us at:
or
by telephone at
+1 669 900 6833 or +1 408 638 0968
Meeting ID: 982 788 122
Join your COPA team and colleagues from across New York State to hear the latest government and legislative scoop and ask the experts your questions!
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2nd ANNUAL COPA CONFERENCE APRIL 24-25
The Coal
ition of Provider Associations (COPA) 2nd Annual Human Resources Professionals Co
nfe
rence For The Disability Provider Community will take place April 24 and 25 at the Embass
y Suites Hotel in Saratoga Springs. Approximately 150 people f
rom across the state will attend the event offering sessions on issues critical to organizatio
ns providing supports and services to people with disabilities and their families. A list of topics and presenters are listed below.
Sexual Harassment: The Allegations Are Serious So Your Investigation Must Be As Well
Richard D. Landau, Principal, Jackson Lewis, PC
Panel Discussion on Implementation of 3.25% Increases
Mike Alvaro, Executive Vice President, CP of NYS
Nathalia Berger, Director of Human Resources, Heaven's Hands Community Services
Bethany Brown, Director of Human Resources, Racker
Gary Dreyfuss, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, ADAPT Community Network
Roberta Koenigsberg, Chief Administrative Officer, ADAPT Community Network
HR & The Multi-Generational Workplace
Elaine M. Angelo, Performance Consultant, ProKnowledge, LLC
Coping with NY's New Paid Family Leave Benefits: Addressing Your Implementation Questions
Jill Bergman, Vice President of Compliance, Health & Benefits, Chernoff Diamond
OPWDD Workforce Shortage Activities
Megan O'Connor-Hebert, Deputy Commissioner, NYS OPWDD
Sharon Devine, Deputy Commissioner of Workforce/Talent Management, NYS OPWDD
Do's and Don'ts - Social Media Policies
Melissa M. Zambri, Esq. & Michael Sciotti, Esq., Partners, Barclay Damon, LLP
Registration deadline is April 13th! Click HERE to register.
Conference questions may be directed to 518-436-0178.
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NYS SENATE INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE REJOINS MAINLINE SENATE DEMOCRATS
Jeffrey Klein, the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) leader who has shared power with the Republicans for five years, joined Governor Cuomo's press conference on April 11, along with Democratic Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. Together they announced that the New York State Senate's Democrats will reunite.
The IDC formed shortly after 2011 when Cuomo took office. They put together a first power-sharing agreement with the Republicans in 2012. Cuomo has been criticized by progressives for not doing much more to reunite the Democrats.
Before the Senate Democrats take control of the Senate some things need to be resolved;
if they win the special election on April 24 to replace Districts 32-Bronx and 37-Westchester, it would give them 32 members.
It is unclear if Simcha Felder, a Brooklyn Democrat, will return to the Democrats because he has caucused with the Republicans since 2012 and provides the one-vote margin for the GOP majority. The Senate rules require a two thirds majority vote to change leadership midsession. Democrats argue this rule will not stand a constitutional challenge but a court decision can take up to years. The Senate Republicans could potentially retain the majority after the November election.
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IMPORTANT FORUM ADDRESSING HEALTH DISPARITIES SCHEDULED FOR ALBANY, APRIL 24
We wanted to be sure that you were aware of the Inaugural President's Forum on Health Disparities, entitled "Health in NY State: Addressing Barriers to Health Across Populations," being held at the University at Albany on April 24 from 8:15am to 3:15pm.
The Forum will feature keynote speaker Dr. Wayne J. Riley, President of the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center. Dr. Riley is President Emeritus of the American College of Physicians and an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.
In addition to his address, there will be an interactive panel discussion exploring the challenges of health disparities across New York State, which will include Presidential Doctoral Fellows in Health Disparities, faculty scholars/researchers, and leaders from community-based partners. The Forum will include a series of faculty presentations on the results of on-going research and scholarly work, as well as afford attendees an opportunity to offer questions and comments throughout the day.
The Forum will also feature introductory remarks by Howard A. Zucker, M.D., J.D., the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health, and University at Albany President Havidán RodrÃguez.
The President's Forum is a centerpiece of UAlbany's $10 million NIH/NIMHD-funded Endowment for Community-Based Health Disparities Research and Training. Members of the campus community, colleagues from across institutions of higher education, along with healthcare and community-based partners are being invited to the Forum. In addition to the exchange of ideas, new concepts and solutions, the Forum will also provide professional development and networking opportunities to foster future research and scholarly collaboration.
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DONNA FRESCATORE IS NAMED STATE MEDICAID DIRECTOR
Donna Frescatore, Executive Director of the New York State of Health Exchange for the last five years, will replace Jason Helgerson as State Medicaid Director when he leaves the post in April. DOH Commissioner Howard Zucker stated that "Frescatore has agreed to return to the position of Medicaid Director, a role she served in 2010. Ms. Frescatore will continue to serve as Executive Director of the New York State of Health and, were she to stay as Medicaid Director, in light of these other responsibilities, we expect that she will assist in a search for a new Medicaid Director in 2019."
From 2011 to 2013, Ms. Frescatore was the Assistant Secretary for Health in Governor Cuomo's Office. She first joined the Department of Health in 1998 as the Director of Managed Care Financing, responsible for rate setting for the Medicaid managed care program and monitoring the financial solvency of managed care organizations. Prior to working with the Department of Health, she spent 17 years in the State Department of Civil Service where she administered benefits for state and local government employees, including oversight of contracting and auditing functions in the Employee Benefits Division.
CP of NYS has an excellent working relationship with Ms. Frescatore and we look forward to working with her in her new role. We wish Jason Helgerson the best as he transitions out of New York State government.
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CP of NYS ADDS ADDITIONAL EDUCATION ASSISTANCE
CP of NYS Affiliates will now have access to the education expertise of Jim DeLorenzo and Patricia Geary throughout the year, both at our regularly scheduled committee meetings and as needed for technical assistance. Jim and Pat, along with Tom Hamel, provide a tremendous resource for programmatic and financial education issues for both pre-school and school age programs. Click
HERE
to find clarification of the services Jim and Pat will be providing Affiliates as part of your Affiliation with CP of NYS, as well as those services which are available for Affiliate-specific consulting arrangements.
We are excited to be able to offer Affiliates the expertise and experience of these knowledgeable professionals.
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JUSTICE CENTER IS SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR THE CODE OF CONDUCT RECOGNITION AWARD
The Justice Center is now accepting nominations for the Code of Conduct Award. Please share with your members and your staff and help us recognize the outstanding staff working within your programs. The award recognizes and honors women and men who provide support to people with special needs throughout New York State.
Information about the award and a link to the nomination form can be found HERE.
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WALMART FOUNDATION ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM
The Walmart Foundation is accepting applications through its Community Grant Program. Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to support local nonprofit organizations within the service area of individual Walmart stores in the areas of hunger relief and healthy eating, sustainability, women's economic empowerment, and/or career opportunities. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until December 31.
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SUMMER CAN'T BE FAR AWAY
It is time to start thinking about the Speech Production and Perception Lab at Teachers College, Columbia University. This summer will be the fifth annual speech treatment day camp for children ages 4-17 with cerebral palsy.
This free, and fun, camp is for children with CP who use speech as their primary communication mode, and have difficulty being understood.
Al Shibley
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QUALITY & COMPLIANCE CONFERENCE WILL TAKE PLACE MAY 8 IN SARATOGA SPRINGS
The 11th Annual CP of NYS and The Arc New York Quality and Compliance Conference will be held at the Saratoga Hilton on May 8. This conference is expected to sell out, so please be sure to register soon. Click
HERE
for the Registration Brochure to get general information, conference schedule, and presenter information. You can register for the conference
HERE
.
Featured speakers include
Denise Miranda (The Justice Center), Kate Marlay (OPWDD) and Melissa Zambri (Barclay Damon).
We have reserved a block of rooms at the Saratoga Hilton Hotel for May 7 at the special rate of $142. Please make reservations directly with the hotel by April 14
HERE.
Please direct any questions about hotel arrangements directly to the Hilton at (518) 584-4000.
The conference registration deadline is April 27. There will be no refunds after April 27. However, you may send someone else in your place. Questions on the conference can be directed to (518) 436-0178.
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SAVE THE DATE - 2018 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 15-17, 2018
Saratoga Hilton Hotel
Saratoga Springs, NY
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