NYSCA
1450 Western Ave, Ste 101
Albany, NY 12203
518-765-2790
518-463-8656 (Fax)
info@coalitionforaging.org

New York State Budget 2003

Position on the Proposed FY 2003 – 2004 Budget

NYSCA and our members, the non-medical community-based senior services providers, understand the state’s fiscal problems and the difficult choices that have to made. The proposed budget is supposed to save the state and the counties Medicaid dollars – but the reality is, it will increase Medicaid applications and spending at all levels of government.

PROPOSED CUTS TO THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE FOR THE AGING

NYSOFA was cut by over 10%. Cuts include:
• $3.5 million cut to CSE and EISEP, increasing the county share, eliminating the EISEP language, eliminating state funded planning and implementation dollars.
• Elimination of the Congregate Services Initiative, NORC’s, RSVP and Foster Grandparent program
• Reductions in social adult day care and respite.
• Reduction in non-medical in-home supports and case management

These programs and services have been proven to maintain someone in their homes and communities and to stay out more costly settings, such as hospitals and home care. They also support the critical role of caregivers. WE SUPPORT FULL RESTORATIONS OF THESE PROGRAMS.

• EISEP already has a 6,000+ waiting list and the program targets low income, frail seniors with high needs and limited support from family and friends.
• 90% of EISEP clients could immediately spend down and become Medicaid eligible if they lose their service.

PROPOSED CUTS TO HOME CARE, HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES

The proposed cuts to the rest of the continuum of care, home care, hospitals and nursing homes, will limit access to more cost effective care in one’s community and leave as the only remaining option, nursing home care which can cost between $70,000 - $90,000 per year and is an inappropriate choice if community care can be provided.

Reducing the states total Medicaid budget by $1.9 billion will mean huge workforce layoffs which impact the quality of care, the reduction in access to skilled home and personal care, limit the abilities of hospitals to discharge patients safely back to their communities and direct people to institutions who will have less staff.

COMBINED REDUCTIONS

Each of the four pieces, NYSOFA programs, home care, hospitals and nursing homes are an integral piece of the long-term care continuum. Reducing cost effective front end programs will direct people to the Medicaid program as the only way to have their needs met. This will drive up state costs and because the state is proposing to shift more of a burden on the counties, will drive up county costs.

In a post-Olmstead environment – we need to be investing, over time, in the capacity of community services so they can continue to delay and prevent more costly care.