Getting Ready for NYAPRS 19 th Annual Legislative Day Winter Regional Forums Tom Templeton, Public Policy Specialist Harvey Rosenthal, Executive Director
New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) A peer-led statewide coalition of people who use and/or provide community mental health recovery services and peer supports that is dedicated to improving services, social conditions and policies for people with psychiatric disabilities by promoting their recovery, rehabilitation, rights and community integration and inclusion. harveyr@nyaprs.org www.nyaprs.org tomt@nyaprs.org 2
2016 NYAPRS Regional Forums Why NYS Budget Advocacy?
Why NYAPRS NYS Budget Advocacy? Housing: supported, supportive Community Services: rehab, peer support Criminal Justice: diversion, prison condition, re-entry Workforce: COLAs
Why NYAPRS NYS Budget Advocacy? Adult Home reform: transitional supports, housing and advocacy Entitlements: restore SSI cuts Open access to medications: prescriber prevails
2016 NYAPRS Regional Forums Why NYAPRS Legislative Advocacy?
Why NYAPRS Legislative Advocacy? Transportation: MTA Half-Fare Act Employment: Medicaid Buy-In Prison reform: SHU Exclusion Law Fighting Coercion: Opposing Kendra s Law permanence and expansion Access to mental health services: Timothy s Law
Other Benefits of Advocacy Hope Empowerment Community Powerful repudiation of stigma and discrimination
2016 NYS Legislature s Session Timeline January 13 Governor Cuomo released Executive Budget Proposal January/February The Legislature reacts via hearings (mental health hearing is February 3) February 23 NYAPRS holds Lobby Day and meets with legislators March Staff continue to meet with legislators and encourage members to meet at district offices End of April Budget is closed April to June Legislation is considered
Demonstration to Stop Cuts to Recovery Services
Cross Disability March to Restore Proposed SSI Cuts
Cross Disability Demonstration for Medicaid Buy-In
After Newtown. 13
NYAPRS 2015-16 Advocacy Scorecard NYAPRS Member 2015 Priorities Housing 1. $82 million across the board rate adjustment 2. Create 35,000 supportive housing units over 5 years Criminal Justice 1. Crisis Intervention Teams 2. Raise the Age 3. Presumptive Medicaid Eligibility 4. Solitary Confinement ban Action 1. $10 million for a supported housing stipend increase 2. Around 5000 units over 10 years 1. $1.5 million allocation 2. No action 3. $1 million for certified application counselors to facilitate Medicaid enrollment; interagency negotiations underway 4. Progress via legal settlement
NYAPRS 2015-16 Advocacy Scorecard NYAPRS Member 2015 Priorities Medicaid 1. Restore prescriber prevails 2. Approve Community First Choice Option 1. Restored 2. No action Action Workforce 1. Cost of Living Adjustment 1. Limited 2% COLA was approved
NYAPRS 2015-16 Advocacy Scorecard NYAPRS Member 2015 Priorities Community Services Expansion 1. Approve $15 million in Community Reinvestment fund Community Integration 1. $40 million in transitional supports/housing for adult and nursing home residents Anti-Stigma and Discrimination 1. Mental Health Tax Check-off Bill 1. Approved 1. Approved 1. Approved Action
NYAPRS 2016-17 Policy Priorities HOUSING Raise the Base: Across the board rate adjustment for community housing by $92 million Executive: no add 35,000 Supportive Housing Units: Executive: 20,000 units to match NYC Mayor de Blasio s 15,000 units
NYAPRS 2016-17 Policy Priorities KEEP THE PROMISE $90 million investment in Community Mental Health Services Unprecedented national and state focus on critical importance of expanding and improving funding and outcomes for community mental health services Rapid and demanding transition to managed care and value-based payment systems Most sectors haven t seen increases in many years Priorities: workforce retention and quality, ramping up infrastructure and internal systems, preserve and expand services; foster innovation
NYAPRS 2016-17 Policy Priorities KEEP THE PROMISE $90 million investment in Community Mental Health Services Potential Funding sources in Executive Proposal Restore $5.5 million in Community Reinvestment to reflect the full savings from all 200 state hospital bed closures Restore $20 million to BHO-HARP Investment Program Restore $44 million in Medicaid Funding for Supported Housing
NYAPRS 2016-17 Policy Priorities CRIMINAL JUSTICE Expand and Annualize Funding for Crisis Intervention Teams Executive: no proposal Establish Presumptive Medicaid Eligibility Executive: no proposal Raise the Age of Youthful Offender Status Executive: budget proposal
NYAPRS 2016-17 Policy Priorities WORKFORCE Add Funding to the Nonprofit Sector to Help Pay for $15 per hour Minimum Wage Hike Executive: no proposal 7% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) 0.2% COLA proposed
NYAPRS 2016-17 Policy Priorities COMMUNITY INTEGRATION Community housing and supports for adult home residents with psychiatric disabilities Executive: $38 million MEDICAID Prescriber Prevails for All Medications Executive: eliminates except for anti-psychotic and anti-depressant drugs
NYAPRS 2016-17 Policy Priorities RIGHTS PROTECTIONS Oppose S.4722/A.1275 to expand Kendra s Law and make it permanent. Executive: no proposal at this time Expand Medicaid managed care Ombuds Program Executive: Got base funding in Governor s budget (program still in its infancy)
NYAPRS 2016-17 Policy Priorities WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ON THIS LIST?
The Power of Legislative Day! Come on February 23, 2016
The Personal Becomes the Political
Tipping Points Women s Rights Movement: Seneca Falls, July 19-20, 1848 Civil Rights Movement: Selma, March 26, 1965 Gay Liberation Movement: Stonewall, June 28, 1969 Mental Health and Addiction Recovery and Rights Movements:?
Broadening our Alliance Taking our Message to the Streets Planned 2017 March for Dignity! 28
NYAPRS 2016-17 Policy Priorities QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? CONCERNS?
NYAPRS 2016-17 Policy Priorities CONTACT INFO: Email: TomT@nyaprs.org Phone: 518-436-0008