NYSACRA

In This Issue

Open Your Eyes! Watch it Now!

GOVERNOR PATERSON WARNS OF NEW CUTS

MORATORIUM CALLED FOR CMS OUTPATIENT REGULATION AFFECTING CLINICS

NY CONGRESSIONAL REPS CALL FOR FMAP INCREASE

CONGRESS PASSED THE ADA AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2008 (HR 3195)

GOVERNOR PATERSON APPLAUDS ADVOCATES

Open Your Eyes! Watch it Now!

Greetings NYSACRA Members!

·  GOVERNOR PATERSON WARNS OF NEW CUTS

This week Governor David Paterson signaled that even more budget cutting would be needed and he may even call the Legislature back to Albany before the November Election.  Citing the serious fiscal crisis happening on Wall Street, the State will most certainly see a further reduction in revenues.  They are awaiting a budget report due out in a few weeks to judge what steps need to be taken.  NYSACRA will keep you updated.

·  MORATORIUM CALLED FOR CMS OUTPATIENT REGULATION AFFECTING CLINICS

NYSACRA strongly urged the NY Congressional Reps to support a one-year moratorium on CMS' Proposed Rule, which would narrow the definition of outpatient hospital services and limit Medicaid reimbursement under the hospital outpatient benefit to only those services covered by Medicare.  These proposed changes could potentially result in the loss of over $350 million in federal Medicaid dollars for New York State's clinic providers; almost $57 million for just developmental disability providers alone.  NYSACRA is pushing for a one year delay to the Proposed Rule which would provide much needed temporary fiscal relief.

·  NY CONGRESSIONAL REPS CALL FOR FMAP INCREASE

Congress is set to adjourn next Friday, September 26, 2008, and hopes to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the Federal government running through the swearing in of a new President.  Talks are ongoing about including an FMAP increase in that CR.  NYSACRA reported last week about two letters we signed onto, and we are happy to report that our request to have the NY Congressional Delegation support such a move was agreed to unanimously, and they sent a bi-partisan letter to the House leadership.  The recent financial bailouts, including the one Treasury Secretary Paulson just proposed complicate the timing for next week, but it takes priority and is expected to be passed.

·  CONGRESS PASSED THE ADA AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2008 (HR 3195)

Congress passed the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (HR 3195).  The most poignant statement about the bill is noted in the Findings section of the bill, "(3) while Congress expected that the definition of disability under the ADA would be interpreted consistently with how courts had applied the definition of handicap under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, that expectation has not been fulfilled."  Among the purposes of this new Act listed in the bill, is "(1) to carry out the ADA's objectives of providing a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination and clear, strong, consistent, enforceable standards addressing discrimination by reinstating a broad scope of protection to be available under the ADA."  The Act shall become effective on January 1, 2009.

·  GOVERNOR PATERSON APPLAUDS ADVOCATES

Recently Governor David Paterson admitted to disability rights advocates that he had not focused well on their concerns, and vowed that he would focus better on the needs of individuals and groups who don't always have millions of dollars to pour into advocacy efforts.  Paterson encouraged disability rights groups to continue to seek attention in Albany, and said he would be an advocate for them.  This is where Paterson made headlines by referring to some lawmakers as "bloodsuckers" because when he was a legislator he said some of his colleagues would act like they cared about groups' causes yet dismiss them after the day was over.  How this tone fits with his budget doom message is yet unclear.

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