One
Voice
Another Legislative Session in the Books
T
he 2018 legislative session, one marked by heightened levels of gridlock and election-
year bickering, closed on June 21 st . LeadingAge New York pursued many important
budget and legislative initiatives this session and, thanks to members’ advocacy, achieved
several successes, including:
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Jeff Diamond
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$60 million in new Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program funding for
community-based health care providers, including home care agencies and hospices;
$45 million for nursing homes; and $20 million for Assisted Living Programs (ALPs);
New mechanisms allowing existing ALPs to expand their program capacity by nine or
fewer beds and providing for an expedited review process;
The delay of the transfer of the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD)
and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Medicaid waiver programs into managed care
until Jan. 1, 2022;
The rejection of the Executive Budget proposal to consolidate several public health
programs and reduce aggregate funding by 20 percent;
The passage of legislation, currently awaiting the Governor’s approval, allowing
Medicaid beneficiaries to access both ALP and Hospice benefits;
The passage of legislation, currently awaiting the Governor’s approval, permitting
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) to adopt written cybersecurity
policies and self-certify that such policies are not inconsistent with the goals of the
Department of Financial Services’ (DFS) 2017 cybersecurity regulations; and
The defeat of the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act, legislation opposed by LeadingAge
New York that would have mandated specific staffing ratios for nurses and other
direct care staff in hospitals and nursing homes at a cost of approximately $1 billion to
nursing homes statewide.
Social media played an especially critical role in advancing our priorities this session. As
part of a webinar training series conducted by LeadingAge New York and Corning Place
Communications in January, members learned the ins and outs of engaging with lawmakers
on Facebook and Twitter and how to empower their c ommunities to amplify their efforts.
These strategies were utilized heavily during our two budget Advocacy Days in Albany,
throughout budget season and into the latter half of session.
With lawmakers now back in their districts, LeadingAge New York encourages members
to continue meeting with and educating them throughout the summer and fall. Invite them
[legislators] to your organization to meet your residents
and staff, and thank them for their hard work in helping
... LeadingAge New York encourages members to continue
us advance our priorities! We also urge you to consider
meeting with and educating them throughout the summer nominating your legislators for a Partners in Quality
Award to recognize their advocacy efforts this session.
and fall. Invite them [legislators] to your organization to
Whether you already have a relationship with a specific
lawmaker or want to build a new alliance, this award
meet your residents and staff, and thank them for their
provides the opportunity to bring public recognition
hard work in helping us advance our priorities!
to officeholders who are working to protect New York’s
seniors. LeadingAge New York is accepting nominations
through July 31, 2018; recipients will be notified in August; and award presentations will
take place throughout the fall.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Advocacy
and Public Policy team at 518-867-8383. Thank you again for your efforts!
Questions? Contact Jeff Diamond, government relations analyst, at jdiamond@leadingageny.
org or 518-867-8821.
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Adviser a publication of LeadingAge New York | Summer 2018