-
NEXT WEEK - CALL-IN EFFORT TO PROTECT MEDICAID
- MEDICAID REDESIGN TEAM MEETS IN ALBANY - SUPER WAIVER PROPOSED
- GOVERNOR ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER REQUIRING STATE AGENCIES TO OFFER FREE INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION SERVICES TO NON ENGLISH SPEAKING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
- LIVES WORTH LIVING PREMIERES ON THE PBS SERIES INDEPENDENT LENS ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011 AT 10 PM
NEXT WEEK - CALL-IN EFFORT TO PROTECT MEDICAID
Grassroots efforts are mobilizing throughout New York State and across the nation to protect Medicaid from disastrous cuts contained in the Congressional Select Committee on Deficit Reduction recommendations. A national call-in effort will be held on Thursday, October 13th and Friday, October 14th to urge members of the Congressional Select Committee, also called the "Supercommittee", to reject cuts to Medicaid. The House and Senate subcommittees are to submit proposals next week, therefore the call-in effort will be timely and important. Look for NYSACRA's ACTION ALERT early next week that will provide you with full details related to the call-in effort.
MEDICAID REDESIGN TEAM MEETS IN ALBANY - SUPER WAIVER PROPOSED
This week, the Governor's Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) met in Albany to review progress to date, receive updates from subcommittees and discuss next steps. According to the MRT's Progress Report, the State has achieved $600 million in savings to date as a result of actions proposed by the team and enacted in the 2011-12 State Budget. MRT "Round I" recommendations are to achieve $2.2 billion in savings during the current fiscal year which ends March 31, 2012. Jason Helgerson, State Medicaid Director, announced plans to submit an application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for an 1115 "Superwaiver" which, if approved, will allow the State to reinvest Medicaid savings resulting from the State's actions to overhaul the program. The MRT's next report is due to the Governor by December 31st and Subcommittees are expected to release final recommendations in early November and mid-December.
GOVERNOR ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER REQUIRING STATE AGENCIES TO OFFER FREE INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION SERVICES TO NON ENGLISH SPEAKING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
This week, Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an Executive Order to improve access to state services for non-English speaking individuals. According to the Governor's Press Release, approximately 2.5 million New Yorkers do not speak English as their primary language which presents barriers when attempting to access government services. Among the state agencies directed to offer free interpretation and translation services for vital forms and instructions is the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. OPWDD and other state agencies will offer such interpretive services in the following languages: French, Spanish, Chinese, Italian, Russian and French Creole. To view the press release, go to: http://governor.ny.gov/press/10062011nonenglisheo
