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NYAPRS First Look at NYS Budget Agreement

by troyweb

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NYAPRS First Look at NYS Budget Agreement

By Harvey Rosenthal and Briana Gilmore   March 30, 2015

 

Last night, Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders Assemblyman Carl Heastie and Senators Dean Skelos and Jeffery Klein announced agreement for the FY 2015-16 budget. State legislators are expected to approve the budget deal before the April 1st deadline.

 

Here’s our preliminary review of how NYAPRS’ members’ top budget priorities fared, along with some other notable provisions. Stay tuned for more details.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/MENTAL HEALTH

Among our uppermost priorities, there are a number of advances that will take effect in the coming year.

 

DIVERSION

  • Crisis Intervention Teams: NYAPRS was hoping to preserve and build on the $400,000 we helped win last year that is bringing specialized mental health training for local police and improved mental health system response to 8 localities. This year, thanks to strong support from Mental Health Committee Chairs Senator Rob Ortt and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther joined forces to allocate almost 4 times amount!
    • Result: Thanks in part to a strong combined effort by NYAPRS and MHANYS, the budget includes a total of $1.5 million to enhance and expand CIT teams across the state. Included here is funding for regional Mental Health First Aid Training for police and an analysis aimed at identifying strategies to identify and implement “alternative diversion programs that would provide support for crisis intervention teams and police related diversion services.”
  • Raise the Age: NYAPRS strongly supported the Governor’s proposal to raise the age of youthful offender status from 16 to 18, keeping many more young people out of our prisons and jails.
    • Result: This proposal has gotten much attention and, while it wasn’t resolved within the budget, negotiations will continue through session.

 

RE-ENTRY

  • Presumptive Medicaid Eligibility: MHANYS and NYAPRS had proposed repurposing the $15 million OMH Medication Grants Program to grant immediate access to Medicaid funded medications and services for people with both psychiatric and addiction related conditions who are returning to the community from prisons and jails.
    • Result: The DOH budget includes $1 million in grants to fund “certified application counselors and assistors to facilitate the enrollment of “at risk” individuals” pending release from those facilities. More details coming. While it’s a first step, we are continuing efforts to reprogram the OMH MGP to ensure immediate access to services and medications for a much more expansive population. 
  • Enhanced Community Services for people with behavioral health needs leaving state prisons
    • Result: NYAPRS gave strong support to OMH Commissioner Ann Sullivan’s successful proposal to invest $22 million to provide pre-discharge supports and planning, wrap-around community-based services, and supported housing
  • Coordinated Community Care
    • The budget includes $5 million to establish coordination between the health homes and the criminal justice system and for the integration of information of health homes with state and local correctional facilities

 

HOUSING

  • The top priority at our February 25 Legislative Day, the budget does not include additional funding beyond the Governor’s $10 million supported housing rent stipend hike. It appears to preserve the $30 million promised by Governor Cuomo for additional supported housing for current adult home residents with psychiatric disabilities. More details pending.

 

MEDICAID

  • Community First Choice: The Community First Choice Option is a waiver that allows for consumers with disabilities to self-direct needed assistance with activities of daily living and in-home or community based supports. Activities that fall under the CFCO waiver are eligible for an extra 6% Federal Medicaid funding match. NYAPRS joined an array of disability advocacy groups in pushing for a change in the Nurse Practice Act to allow for the creation of “advanced home health aide” positions that could be filled by peers and family members. We also supported their proposal that all of the enhanced federal funding (estimated at $300 million) be reinvested into community services.
    • Results: State legislators failed to approve the advance home health aide category but they did approve full reinvestment of savings, an egregious outcome that will trigger strong advocacy responses that we will support.
  • Preserve the Transition to Medicaid Managed Care: NYAPRS strongly supported the Executive proposal to keep intact this $115 million fund aimed at supporting system transition to Medicaid managed care.
    • Result: Approved by the legislature.
  • Expand Medicaid Managed Care Ombuds program for individuals with behavioral health conditions
    • Result: NYAPRS will build on positive discussions with DOH.
  • Restore Prescriber Prevails: We joined many other groups in urging legislators to restore provisions that give prescribers precedence in determining the medications that their patients want and need, in the areas of anti-depressant, anti-psychotic, antiretroviral, anti-rejection, seizure, epilepsy, endocrine, hematologic and immunologic therapeutic classes.
    • Result: Restored by the legislature.

 

COMMUNITY SERVICES

  • State Hospital Reinvestment: The budget affirms OMH’s proposal to close around 135 state hospital beds and to reinvest $15 million into expanding local community services.
  • Adult Home Residents:
    • EQUAL program: State legislators restored this program, which was proposed for elimination in the Governor’s budget. Enhancing the Quality of Adult Living (EQUAL) provides funding to improve the physical environment of the facility or  the  quality  of  care  and   services  in homes that serve individuals with disabilities, typically paying for staff training, air conditioning in residents’ areas, clothing, improvements in food quality, furnishings, equipment, security, and maintenance or repairs to the facility. State legislators further strengthened requirements that such expenses are approved by resident councils.
    • CIAD: The budget provides $75,000 to the Coalition of Institutionalized, Aged and Disabled to fund continued advocacy by and on behalf of the residents.
  • Cost of Living: Legislators approved the Governor’s proposal to provide the 2% COLA for community mental health direct care and clinical workforce.
  • Transportation
    • Result: Legislators authorized an “assessment  of the  mobility  and transportation needs of persons with disabilities and other special populations including but not limited to  those  receiving behavioral health services” that will lead to the creation of a pilot demonstration program to coordinate medical and non-medical transportation services, maximize funding sources, enhance community integration and any other related tasks.”

 

TAX CHECK OFF: NYAPRS has given strong support to MHANYS’ proposal to win passage of a Mental Health Tax Check off Bill to raise awareness and counter discrimination

 

    • Results: No action. Stay tuned for details of continued advocacy.