Upcoming Events
NYSACRA's 33rd Annual ConferenceApril 21, 2010 April 21-23, 2010
The Sagamore Hotel
The unusual fiscal times have forced all of us to be more introspective as we seek solutions to new challenges. Discussions within the field and with our members have brought forth a myriad of “stories”...
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Thursday, 07 May 2009 |
· FOOD STAMPS OFFSET TO RATES ADJUSTED
· THREE CMS REGS RESCINDED, INCLUDING TARGETED CASE MANAGEMENT
· A CHANGE IN THE EXECUTIVE CHAMBER
· MTA DEAL WILL BE PASSED TODAY - STILL INCLUDES PAYROLL TAX ON NFP
· HHS SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS SWORN IN
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NYSACRA News & Views
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Issue No. 82-09
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May 5, 2009
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Open Your Eyes! Watch it Now!
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NYSACRA Calendar
Executive Positions
Action Center
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Greetings NYSACRA Members!
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· FOOD STAMPS OFFSET TO RATES ADJUSTED
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Taking into account the feedback from providers, OMRDD has reduced the offset to residential rates as follows:
Supervised Community Residence and IRA sites - $156 per individual/per month
Supportive Community Residence and IRA sites - $126 per individual/per month
While this reduction is an improvement over the initial proposed $190 per person per month, many providers will still incur a significant financial impact. Executive Directors should receive a letter from OMRDD on the subject soon. Please send your comments and ideas to
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· THREE CMS REGS RESCINDED, INCLUDING TARGETED CASE MANAGEMENT
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On May 6, CMS proposed a rule rescinding three regulations: the 12/28/07 final rule "Elimination of Reimbursement Under Medicaid for School Administration Expenditures and Costs Related to Transportation of School-Age Children Between Home and School"; the 11/7/08 final rule "Clarification of Outpatient Hospital Facility Services Definition"; and certain provisions of the 12/4/07 interim rule "Optional State Plan Case Management Services."
· The school based administration/transportation rule eliminated Medicaid reimbursement for administrative costs such as those associated with enrolling school aged children in Medicaid. School administrators estimated that these cuts would have forced them to severely reduce related services (e.g. physical, occupational and speech and language therapies) and classroom aides provided to students with disabilities in special education.
· The outpatient rule narrowed the scope of services that can be provided to poor people under Medicaid's outpatient hospital benefit, such as dental and vision care.
· The targeted case management rule was required by the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA). The Bush Administration had issued a regulation that went far beyond the requirements of the DRA, including making it significantly more difficult for individuals transitioning from institutions to the community by reducing federal reimbursement for transitional case management from the last 180 days of an individual's institutional stay to the last 60 days. In many cases, due to the lack of affordable and accessible housing and challenges in securing support services, it is difficult to impossible to transition to the community in 60 days. The partial rescission removes all provisions that went beyond the requirements of the DRA.
These regulations have been the subject of Congressional moratoria and have not been or have only been partially implemented by CMS. The decision to rescind them was based on concerns raised about the adverse effects that could result from the regulations, particularly on services available to beneficiaries; potential impact on states in the economic downturn; and the lack of clear evidence demonstrating that the regulations are warranted.
CMS is seeking comments on the proposed rule by no later than 5 PM on June 1, 2009. A list of questions that CMS is looking for input on, as well as the means to provide the input, is contained in CMS' proposed rule which can be found at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-10494.pdf |
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· A CHANGE IN THE EXECUTIVE CHAMBER
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It was reported in Tuesday's, May 5th, Crain's Health Pulse that Joe Baker, Deputy Secretary for Health and Human Services to the Governor, will be leaving his post to serve as President of the Medicare Rights Center. He had previously served as the Center's Executive Vice President from 1994 to 2001 before becoming the Health Care Bureau Chief in the Office of the New York State Attorney General. He joined Governor Spitzer's administration in January, 2007, as Assistant Deputy Secretary for Health and Human Services. He was subsequently appointed as Deputy Secretary by Governor Patterson in November, 2008. NYSACRA wishes Joe well in his new endeavors. |
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· MTA DEAL WILL BE PASSED TODAY - STILL INCLUDES PAYROLL TAX ON NFP
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The double impact of significant increases in public transportation fares and the payroll tax concerned all downstate New Yorkers, particularly individuals with disabilities and those who directly support them: people who rely heavily on public transportation and barely make a living wage. After months of stalled negotiations, Governor Paterson announced an agreement on May 5th to assist the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and avoid steep fare increases and deep service cuts.
The plan would raise about $2.26 billion a year to help the troubled agency. The bulk of the money - $1.5 billion - would be collected from a payroll tax in the 12 counties served by the MTA. The rest would come from a 10 percent fare hike this year and other fees. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the proposal today. The plan has changed from an earlier proposal in that employers in every county would be charged 34 cents for every $100 of payroll. Putnam, Dutchess and Orange counties originally were going to pay 25 cents for every $100 of payroll because they are farther from the MTA's hub in New York City. Paterson said that was changed in an effort to make the plan as uniform as possible.
The agreement calls for a 10 percent fare hike now, meaning $2.25 for the subway and buses, followed by additional hikes of 7.5 percent in both 2011 and 2013. Another change is that a portion of the money raised will allow the MTA to preserve its $6.5 billion capital plan through 2011. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, on Tuesday asked the plan include some capital funding, and the proposal was revised to include this. The plan now includes a proposal by the governor to reimburse school districts for the payroll tax, a $60 million annual cost to the state. School districts will be reimbursed out of next year's state budget for charges they incur this year. The MTA bailout plan would increase other taxes and fees in the 12-county region, including a hike in the auto-rental tax from 6 percent to 11 percent; a $25 fee on motor vehicle registration; a 25 percent increase for a driver's license; and a 50-cent surcharge for taxi rides. |
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· HHS SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS SWORN IN
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Kathleen Sebelius was sworn in as the 21st Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Tuesday, April 29, 2009. The Secretary governs one of the largest civilian departments in the federal government with more than 67,000 employees, and oversees CMS.
Secretary Sebelius was the Governor of Kansas for six years. As Governor, Sebelius expanded Kansas' newborn screenings, put a renewed emphasis on childhood immunization and increased eligibility for children's health coverage. More than 59,000 additional children were enrolled in health coverage during her time in office. Sebelius also worked closely with Kansas first responders and law enforcement to prepare for natural disasters and other emergencies. In 2005, Time magazine named her one of the nation's top five governors. Prior to her tenure as Governor, Secretary Sebelius spent 8 years serving as the Kansas State Insurance Commissioner. Previously, she was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives from 1986-1994. |
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