- NYSACRA PROVIDES TESTIMONY TO ASSEMBLY ON THE DUALLY DIAGNOSED
- MEDICAID WRAPAROUND ENDS ON JULY 1, 2006
- THE ARC OTSEGO ISSUES CALL FOR ARTISTS
NYSACRA PROVIDES
TESTIMONY TO ASSEMBLY ON THE DUALLY DIAGNOSED
Today, Forest Cotten,
Director of Legislative Services offered testimony regarding people with a dual
diagnosis before the Assembly Committee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation and
Developmental Disabilities and the Assembly Task Force on People with
Disabilities. You can read the testimony at
www.nysacra.org/nysacra/dualdiagnosis.pdf. Thank you to the NYSACRA members
that provided comments to shape it.
MEDICAID WRAPAROUND
ENDS ON JULY 1, 2006
Effective on July 1, 2006, the Medicaid wrap around
benefit for Medicare Part D ends. This benefit, effective since January 1, 2006
when Medicare Part D went into effect, ensures that people eligible for both
Medicare and Medicaid receive all the drugs they need, even if they are not
covered under the new Part D plan (exceptions are allowed for four kinds of
drugs: atypical anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, anti-retrovirals for
HIV/AIDS, and anti-rejection drugs used for transplants). The Legislature voted
to continue the wrap around until January 14, 2007. But the Governor is moving
forward with this cut saying that he will not comply with the legislature’s
decision. NYSACRA participated in a press conference with AARP and other
advocacy groups on June 6, 2006 on this issue. In a statement at the news
conference, NYSACRA Executive Director Ann Hardiman provided this comment, “Without
the Medicaid wrap around, people with
developmental disabilities who need certain drugs that are not covered under
Medicare Part D, such as Neurontin or Tegretol, will need to pay out of pocket
for the entire cost of their prescription, making it unaffordable. The result
can and will lead to further health complications and crises warranting
additional medical treatment, emergency room visits and hospitalizations, which
will ultimately be more costly than the prescription drugs.
On behalf of people with developmental disabilities in NYS
and their families I ask the Governor to make the wrap around benefit permanent,
consistent with his longstanding support for the unique needs of people with
disabilities.”
NYSACRA will keep you posted on
action you can take on this matter in the near future.
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THE ARC OTSEGO
ISSUES CALL FOR ARTISTS
The Arc Otsego has issued a
call for artists for Voice! 2- the second annual juried exhibition of
artwork celebrating the self-expression of artists with developmental
disabilities. Any artist living in New York State who has a developmental
disability is invited to submit artwork for consideration.
The deadline for submission is Friday, June 30. The application fee is
$10.00 for the first work and $5.00 for a second work. For more information,
please contact Lynne Sessions by phone at 607-433-8428 or by email at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or
visit the website at www.arcotsego.org
to download a copy of the application form.
Voice! 2, which is sponsored by The Arc Otsego, in partnership with the
Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts, runs from Friday, August 4th
through Saturday, August 12 at The Arts Council, Wilber Mansion, 11 Ford
Ave., Oneonta, NY. Winners of a total of $600 in prize money will be
announced at the opening reception, Friday August 4th at 5 pm. NYSACRA is
proud to assist The Arc of Otsego in this exhibition. |
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