Senators Robach, Funke support the Disability Community by signing on to Advanced Home Health Aide bill

June 12, 2015 (Albany, NY) – Shortly after meeting with constituents on Wednesday, Senators Joseph Robach and Rich Funke signed on as co-sponsors of SB. 5855, a bill that will help thousands of people with disabilities and seniors to live in their own homes. The bill, introduced by Senator Kevin Parker, will allow a supervising nurse to assign health related tasks to trained workers, Advanced Home Health Aides (AHHAs) working in the homes of disabled people and seniors. The absence of this service unnecessarily forces people into nursing facilities, at great expense to the State and in violation of their civil rights.

The AHHA proposal was included in last year’s Senate one-house budget. A same-as bill passed the Assembly last month, and the Disability Community has called on the Senate to act on this proposal. Senators Parker, Robach, and Funke have heeded the call.

“I am so proud to live in a district where my Senator supports my rights,” said Stephanie Woodward, a disability advocate with the Center for Disability Rights and a constituent of Senator Robach. “This bill will help people with disabilities who can’t direct their own services to live in their own homes.”

Before Tuesday, the Senate had taken no action on the AHHA proposal this session, despite widespread support among stakeholders including the Disability Community, AARP, the New York State Nurses Association, home care providers, health care plans, and other organizations. The creation of AHHAs is necessary for New York to implement Community First Choice, a Medicaid funding mechanism that can bring as much as $400 million in additional funding into the state. The bill has only a few days to pass the Senate, and the Disability Community is calling Senate leadership today in support of the bill.

“We are tremendously grateful to Senators Parker, Robach, and Funke for their support,” said Adam Prizio, manager of government affairs at the Center for Disability Rights. “Now it is on the Senate to pass the bill this session. If we don’t pass the bill this session, we are walking away from millions of dollars, and violating the rights of New Yorkers with Disabilities at the same time.”

Contact:
Adam Prizio: 603-867-4910
Stephanie Woodward: 585-546-7510