NYAPRS First Look Assembly One-House Budget Bills
Briana Gilmore NYAPRS Public Policy Director March 10, 2015
NYAPRS Note: Here is a first look at the NYS Assembly’s budget proposal released a few hours ago. The focus in this review is specifically on proposals affecting the mental health and substance abuse community.
NYAPRS is pleased that several of our legislative priorities are referenced by the Assembly. Thanks to all of you who came out in force for the February 25th NYAPRS Legislative Day and to those who advocated for other pertinent issues and in your localities.
At this time, we continue to look for housing rate increases and expanded NYNYIV capacity.
We are still reviewing bill language and consulting with stakeholders, and anticipate more information when the Senate one-house bills are provided.
In the coming days, we’ll learn how much additional monies will be available to add funds to the health, mental hygiene and corrections “tables”.
The NYS Assembly one-house bills include the following:
Criminal Justice:
- Presumptive Medicaid Eligibility afforded to persons discharged from forensic settings for a period of sixty days
- Crisis Intervention Team demonstration projects that would establish an OMH office that supported local CIT collaboration, provided outcome-based reports and recommendations, and identifies underserved populations. The program would also establish an inpatient and CJ diversion program based on best-practices.
- Health Home Plus Expansion. The Department Of Health can supply grants up to $5 million to enhance the relationships between Health Homes and supports for justice-involved individuals with behavioral health issues.
Right Protections:
- Restoration of EQUAL funding for Adult Home residents, based on an application from the AH operator and subject to approval of fund allocation plan by the residents’ council.
- Reinstatement of Prescriber Prevails language, that allows prescribers to negotiate optimal prescriptions for consumers apart from managed care formularies.
- Reinstatement of Spousal Refusal, that protects the financial stability of families when one spouse experiences disability or health-related impairment and subsequent financial hardship that would qualify them as eligible for disability assistance.
- Protections for the Independent Consumer Advocacy Network (ICAN) that provides objective assistance to consumers, including language that necessitates an independent Ombuds program within managed care companies.
Medicaid Redesign:
- Each Performing Provider System in a DSRIP must create a community advisory board that shapes, responds, and reports on operational activities and outcome measures, including the elimination of healthcare disparities, and which must include local Medicaid consumers as representatives.
Community Services
- State hospital downsizing/pre-investment: the state would be required to provide a one-year notification for facility closures and are authorized to close 137 beds provided that these reductions are not associated with facility closures.
- Upholds the proposed reinvestment of Community First Choice Option waiver savings into Olmstead-related services and supports, including funding for supportive housing, transportation, and the transition of behavioral health services to managed care.
- Clarifies language that permits Advanced Home Health Aides to provide daily living tasks that were previously excluded from the tasks Health Aides were allowed to provide. The list of these tasks, and education and support around them for the health and safety of individuals with disabilities, is being determined in a workgroup with the department of health and representatives from the advocacy and provider community, including NYAPRS.
- A commission will be established to determine the feasibility and advisability of creating an Office Of Community Living, to advise the state on improvements in service delivery and improved program elements that would result from the expansion of community living for the elderly and persons with disabilities.
Stay tuned for more details about the Assembly proposal and the soon-to-be-released Senate budget.