[NYAPRS Enews] NYAPRS March 16 State Budget Update

[Harvey Rosenthal]

NYAPRS Note: Following is an updated summary of where the Governor's,
Assembly's and Senate's budget proposals came out on our issues. Today,
the various joint budget conference committees are meeting. Of
particular interest are:

Health: Senator Kemp Hannon, Co-Chair, Senators Martin Golden, Cathy
Young, David Valesky, Tom Duane Alt. Senators Bill Larkin, Jose Peralta
Assemblymembers Richard N. Gottfried Co-Chair, Audrey I. Pheffer,
Jeffrey Dinowitz, Charles D. Lavine, Lou Tabacco Alt.Crystal D.
Peoples-Stokes, Robert Oaks

Mental Hygiene: Senator Roy McDonald, Co-Chair, Senators Bill Larkin,
Jeff Klein, David Carlucci Alt. Senator Greg Ball Assemblymembers Felix
Ortiz, Co-Chair, Harvey Weisenberg, Barbara M. Clark, Steven Cymbrowitz,
Steve Hawley Alt. Annette Robinson, Nancy Calhoun

NYAPRS continues to push for our agenda and encourages our members and
friends to do the same. Look for call in information in the coming days.


 

Medicaid Budget

*         Regional Behavioral Health Care Coordination: The Governor and
Senate back the OMH/OASAS proposal backed by 41 advocacy groups bringing
in behavioral health organizations (BHOs) to reduce inpatient and ER
costs on a regional basis via utilization management and improved care
coordination and performance, over the next two years. The Assembly's
proposal includes some thoughtful rights and service protections but
ultimately weakens OASAS/OMH oversight and gives too much authority to
the BHOs too soon. 

NYAPRS Position: Support Gov/Senate language

*         Pharmacy: The Governor and Assembly fold pharmacy into managed
care plans (the Assembly specifies PDP, CDRP and Fail First proposals),
remove the exemption for protected mental health/anti-retroviral and
anti-rejection drugs and eliminates prescriber prevails protections. The
Senate rejects the inclusion into managed care and restores prescriber
prevails. 

NYAPRS Position: Support Senate position

*         Rate Cuts: All 3 proposals impose 2% across the board cuts,
except for mental hygiene programs.

NYAPRS Position: Support MH exclusion. 

*         Utilization Thresholds for Behavioral Health Clinics: All 3
proposals support rate reductions after visits mount.

NYAPRS Position: Opposes 

*         Smoking Cessation: The Governor and Assembly approve and the
Senate opposes increased Medicaid reimbursement for smoking cessation. 

NYAPRS Position: Support increased funding for smoking cessation. 

*         Optional Services: The Governor and Assembly proposes no major
changes to optional services or eligibility categories. The Senate would
allow counties to define optional services.

NYAPRS Position: Support no change in options or eligibility. 

*         Expand Eligibility for Medicaid Buy-In: The Governor and
Assembly allow "working disabled individuals to accumulate modest
savings for retirement without losing eligibility" for the Buy-In. 

NYAPRS Position: Support

 

Mental Health Budget

*         State Hospital Closures: The Governor lifts one year
notification ruling requirement. Assembly requires impact report. Senate
would require 6 month notification. 

NYAPRS Position: Support Governor's position. 

*         State Hospital Bed/Ward Closures: The Senate requires 2 weeks
notification, the Assembly requires at least 30 days.  

NYAPRS Position: Support Gov's position. 

*         Reinvestment of Some Savings from State Downsizing: All 3
proposals suspend reinvesting a portion of state downsizing into the
community. 

NYAPRS Position: Reinvest a portion. 

*         Aid to Localities Funding: The Governor proposes $27 million
cut to community services, including continuation of 1.1% cut and COLA
cut from last year with targeted reductions to Clinic + and continuing
day treatment and an unspecified local cut to local state aid. 

NYAPRS Position: Restore cuts with Reinvestment. 

*         Fund Supported Housing for Adult Home Residents: The Governor
and Assembly fund $41 million in court ordered but suspended community
supported housing for adult home residents in NYC with psychiatric
disabilities. 

*         Maximize Peer and Employment Services: All 3 proposals include
more funds for peer recovery centers and employment incentives connected
to 'New York Makes Work Pay' Medicaid Infrastructure program. 

NYAPRS Position: Support! 

*         Fully Fund Forensic Mental Health Initiatives: All 3 proposals
include funds to continue to expand mental health alternatives to
solitary confinement. 

NYAPRS Position: Support!

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://kilakwa.net/pipermail/nyaprs_kilakwa.net/attachments/20110316/f5551424/attachment.html>