Each year, CDR closely reviews and responds to the Executive’s proposed budget. CDR’s response focuses on the proposed budget’s impact on people with disabilities and, more specifically, how the budget affects the ability of people with disabilities to live independently in the community.

Below is a sample of issues in the Executive budget that you should be aware of. For a full version of CDR’s Executive budget analysis, click here: PDF LARGE TEXT

To view the archived webcast of the joint legislative hearing on the health budget, click here.

HEALTH/MEDICAID

CDR opposes the elimination of spousal refusal, which includes parents of young children

This proposal prohibits a spouse or parent from refusing to contribute any available income or assets towards the costs of health care services being provided to a spouse or family member to reduce unnecessary Medicaid financing of long term care services. This proposal is incorrectly positioned as a fraud prevention mechanism to prevent wealthy couples from taking advantage of the system. The reality is that this proposal actually harms low income families. Low-income couples will be forced to divorce in order to qualify for assistance or be forced to institutionalize the spouse who requires long term care services.

CDR supports the reinvestment of Medicaid savings toward housing, but funds should support accessible, affordable, integrated housing

This proposal would allow for the re-investment of Medicaid savings achieved from hospital and nursing home closures or bed de-certifications to expand supportive housing and related services. CDR opposes targeting these funds for traditional supportive housing models where the services are directly linked to the housing. CDR believes these funds should support mechanisms that advance accessible, affordable, integrated housing, such as housing subsidies and home modification funds.

CDR does not support policy where certain populations receive certain services in Medicaid

CDR supports the expansion of benefits, but proposals that prioritize one condition or disability over another are poor policy. The system should strive to be equitable and fair. For example, if Medicaid is going to cover Enteral formula (e.g. Boost and Ensure) for a certain population, then all people who require it based on need should be eligible.

CDR supports the requirement that managed care plans and managed long term care plans offer the consumer directed personal care program (CDPAP) to enrollees

The proposal includes no details other than setting forth the requirement for managed care organizations to offer CDPAP as part of the benefit package. CDR believes that the state should require that plans receive education and training on CDPAP from the network of independent living centers that currently provide CDPAP services.

CDR opposes the elimination of the cost of living adjustment (COLA) for human services providers

The impact of no COLA means that CDR will continue to operate on previous year’s reimbursements and there will be no pass through of additional funds to the direct care workforce that is critical to supporting people with disabilities in the community. The elimination of the COLA makes an already difficult situation even worse. Direct care workers play a vital role in people with disabilities’ independence. In order to support people with disabilities in the community, the State must provide enough funds to support direct care workers.

INDEPENDENT LIVING

CDR supports the maintenance of funding for state-funded Independent Living Centers

In this difficult economy, the independent living community commends the Governor for protecting funding for Independent Living Centers, which offer vital advocacy and direct services to people with disabilities. CDR is affiliated with the Regional Center for Independent Living (RCIL) in Rochester, New York, which receives state funding for operations.

PUBLIC BENEFITS/SSI

CDR supports the State taking over the administration of the State Supplemental Program for Supplemental Security Income

New York offers a supplement to the federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. CDR supports the State taking over the administration of the program from the U.S. Social Security Administration so long as the State puts in place assurances that SSI recipients do not experience any disruptions in their SSI deposits and/or reductions in benefits.

HOUSING

SAVE ACCESS TO HOME! The Access to Home program gets a $1 million commitment from the Executive, but HCR commits no funds.

Due to decades of bad housing policy, which continues today, home modifications are still necessary for many seniors and people with disabilities in order to remain independent in their own homes. The Access to Home program is an essential program that provides grants for modifications, assisting many individuals to avoid nursing facility placement solely due to housing problems. CDR commends the Executive for allocating $1 million to Access to Home, yet the State’s Division of Homes and Community Renewal will not be committing their usual annual allocation amount of $4 million. This year may be the last year for this critical program if the Legislature does not provide for additional funding. CDR urges the Legislature to support Access to Home and increase the funding for this program!