The State Legislature outlined their unwavering commitment to aging services in the One House budget they released last week. Their proposal includes $42 million to end the statewide waitlist for home and community based services. They have also proposed millions to expand NORC programs, increase oversight on long term care facilities, restore funding for nursing services, and more. The full list of funding and policy items is below:
Senate:
$15 million for EISEP and CSE
$5 million for Aging Legislative Grants
$11.3 million for Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, to bring the funding to $15 million
$1 million for NORCs/N NORC Programs, providing a total of $9.1 million
$1 million to support the modification of Article VII HMH Part W, supporting the Interagency Council of Elder Justice. Article VII Proposals (S.8307-B)
The Senate modifies the Executive proposal regarding LTC facilities by removing the residency requirement and providing additional vouchers for the Special Needs Assisted Living Residence (SNALR) voucher program
The Senate modifies the Executive proposal to create an interagency elder justice coordinating council by replacing it with a task force that expands stakeholder participation and requires legislative representation
The Senate advances language to raise the Personal Needs Allowance for certain individuals who reside in a nursing home, residential health care, or intermediate care facility (S.7786)
Assembly:
$42 million to alleviate SOFA waitlists for services
$1 million to restore funding for nursing services
$2.5 million for the expansion of NORCs/N NORC Programs in various areas of the State
$1.3 million to restore funding for the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
$4.8 million to restore various legislative adds
This is a huge investment, but our fight is not over. We must continue to call for this funding to be maintained in the final budget which should be passed by the end of this month. Call your state legislators to thank them for fighting for this funding and to let them know how critical it is to expand aging services in New York State!