Advocate Home > Advocate A A A Advocating for People Who Can’t Be Forgotten When our care systems are underfunded, it is our loved ones – spouses, parents, children and those who need extra support, such as people with intellectual and developmental disabilities – who bear the brunt of the impact. We owe it to those we love to provide sustainable programs and facilities to ensure they receive the care they need. Unfortunately, years of budget cuts and a lack of advancement in reimbursement rates have made it difficult for care providers to serve those in need adequately. Recognizing this problem is the first step. Now is the time to act and rebuild our care infrastructure to ensure we can face the growing need for services for decades to come. Older Adults We owe a great deal to older adults, as their contributions have not only improved but also laid the foundation for the communities we live in today. We owe them programs that provide comfort and high-quality care. New York State’s Long-Term Services and Support system faces an increasing demand for services that they are unlikely to meet, due to inadequate investment from the state. We need to: Expediate the transition to the federally mandated Patient Driven Payment Model clinical assessment system, (replacing the Case Mix Index program). Update the reimbursement rates, which are based on 2007 operating costs. Recognize the regional differences in health care delivery and reward the organizations, especially the non-profits, that provide high-quality, efficient and compassionate care. Children Children are our future caregivers, professionals and leaders. Unfortunately, staffing shortages for key positions in non-public school settings, including classroom aides and clinicians, are impacting the ability to directly address the wide-ranging needs of individual children. Thankfully, State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa and the New York State Board of Regents have recognized this issue and are committed to assessing the reimbursement rate for non-public state education services, particularly those focused on special education. Both have advocated for a rate assessment that would align funding levels with the real needs of schools that care for special needs populations. People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Elevating care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities begins with elevating the experience of caring professionals. Care providers, especially in nonprofit settings, face difficulties in providing direct support workers with the wages, and overall investment they deserve. Staffing shortages make it difficult to keep programs open that people with disabilities rely on. It is critical to advocate for a 7.8% Medicaid rate increase to cover the true costs of care and the professional development of staff members. In addition, creating a Wage Commission to set a living wage that allows for greater self-sufficiency for direct support professionals would improve recruitment and retention rates. Also, enhanced capital investments are needed to modernize program sites, reduce environmental impact and ensure sustainable care settings for the future. What We Are Asking For Use the button below to identify your local representative and craft your message to them. Find your representative The needs of these diverse populations may be wide-ranging, but there are actions the state can take to address all of them at once: Increase Medicaid funding to assist with the costs of staffing, transportation, maintenance and capital projects, medication and more. Provide immediate relief for current funding shortfalls. Convene a commission to examine wages across New York state for direct support professionals and other direct care positions. Contact your local elected officials and let them know what New York state’s citizens need so that nonprofit service providers can continue to meet a growing demand for services. We owe it to our fellow community members to offer quality supports and services that meet urgent needs. With your help, we can deliver on that promise.