Help a Colleague in Need of a Bone Marrow Match
1/29/2010 Our United Way colleague and friend, Jennifer Jones Austin has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Her chances of surviving this disease are small unless she undergoes a bone marrow transplant within the next few months.
How you can help »
Professional Learning Center Store
New! HIPAA Business Associate Agreement Templates, now available. HITECH and Breach Notification changes apply to BAAs. Providers must be compliant by February 17, 2010.
Be compliant, purchase now!! »
Coalition Video on YouTube
Empowering Lives Through Community Behavioral Health - Five stories narrated by Mike Wallace in two parts.
Watch the videos »
Where It's At?
A new website connecting transition aged youth to resources in the NYC area. The website was created by the Coalition's own Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery!
Where It's At? »
Download Presentations from our 1-14-2010 Conference
The Tail that Wags the Dog: The Impact of Insurance on Behavioral Health
Download presentations, see photos »
January 29, 2010
Governor Paterson Proposes Cuts (Mostly) to Close $7.4B Gap
On January 19, 2010, Governor Paterson released the State’s 2010-11 Executive Budget to close a deficit of $7.4 billion. The Coalition is pleased about the Governor’s proposal to extend until June 2014 the exemption of public sector practitioners from the social work and mental health professionals licensing law, his continued support of New York/New York III supportive housing, and provisions for new funding for housing and treatment under drug law reform. We also support the proposed beginnings of an Adult Home Remedial Plan. Still, The Coalition has a number of concerns. Read about the reactions from the human services sector in the New York Nonprofit Press (NYNP).
Through the review of budget documents and conversations with State officials, The Coalition has confirmed that the Executive 2010-11 Budget proposes to increase the recovery target for the Office of Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) by an additional $300M. This is in addition to the extra $150M that was approved by the Legislature in the last Deficit Reduction Plan (DRP), totaling $1.2B. Unfortunately, the Governor’s budget proposes to maintain the cut to the SRO Supported Services program and proposes cuts to other homeless prevention services. In addition, clinic reform will move forward despite the State’s decision not to perform a stress projection test on clinics under the new reimbursement model, and inadequate rates for services provided under managed care plans and the indigent care pool. We will certainly bring these issues to the attention of State leaders on our Albany Advocacy Day visits on February 23 and 24.
Mayor Bloomberg testified in Albany on Monday, January 25, 2010 to inform legislators about the impact of the State Executive 2010-11 Budget on New York City. The Mayor said that the City would receive $1.3B in less aid. He warned the State that the City would have to cut local services, impacting schools, police, fire and sanitation services, and the closing of 500 soup kitchens. According to Mayor Bloomberg’s testimony, the City would also have to lay off 18,500 workers. The City’s budget currently faces a $4.9B deficit of its own. On Thursday, January 28, 2010, the Mayor released the City’s FY11 Preliminary Budget. Cuts were made to “Mental Hygiene Contracts” for $2.2M in FY10 and $6.4M in FY11 and out. The Coalition will keep you informed when more details are released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).
Coalition’s 2010 Albany Advocacy Days February 23 and 24
The Coalition plans two days of critical meetings with State leaders in Albany on February 23 and 24 to advocate for the community-based behavioral health sector. This year, our schedule will consist of a series of visits with key committee chairs and rank and file members from New York City and Westchester. We are seeking meetings with Senate Majority Leader Conference Leader John L. Sampson, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senator Carl Kruger (Chair of Finance Committee), Senator Thomas A. Morahan (Chair of Mental Health Committee), Assembly Member Peter M. Rivera (Chair of Committee on Mental Health), Assembly Member Felix Ortiz (Chair of Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse), Senator Thomas K. Duane (Chair of Health Committee) and Assembly Member Richard N. Gottfried (Chair of Committee on Health), as well as other representatives on pertinent committees.
Our agenda will focus on budget issues, securing a 4 year exemption for public sector practitioners from Social Work and Mental Health Professionals Licensing Law requirements, the regulation of the Office of Medicaid Inspector General’s (OMIG) auditing standards as the State looks to increase OMIG targets for take-backs on claims, and the crisis of care that may result from clinic reform. Members may RSVP for Advocacy Day at cbianchi@coalitionny.org.
City Council Assigns Standing Committees
The new Chairs and standing committee member assignments for the City Council were announced on January 21, 2010. The Committee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Disability Services will continue to be chaired by G. Oliver Koppell (Bronx). Gale Brewer (Manhattan) will continue as a standing member of the committee. New members on the Mental Health Committee are freshmen Council Members Dan Halloran (Queens) and Fernando Cabrera (Bronx). Council Member Cabrera will also Chair the Subcommittee on Drug Abuse, which was formerly chaired by Annabel Palma, who is now the new Chair of the Committee on General Welfare. Domenic Recchia will Chair the Committee on Finance, and Carmen Arroyo the Chair of the Committee on Health.
The Coalition has begun to meet with the new Council Members to introduce them to the mental health and substance abuse programs operated in their districts. We encourage our members to reach out to them as well. Read the entireJanaury 29, 2010 issue of Briefs »
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