Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Cicero) announced that the 2017-18 state budget takes important steps to combat the heroin and opioid epidemic, give direct care workers a living wage, restore Medicaid funding and support programs that help local seniors.

“By investing in health programs and initiatives, we’re looking out for Central New Yorkers’ well-being and putting us on the path toward a healthier state,” said Stirpe. “I’ll continue fighting for the vital services our families rely on.”

Combating the heroin and opioid epidemic

Despite increased media attention and legislative action, the heroin and opioid epidemic continues to rage in communities across New York State. Between 2013 and 2016, the number of deaths attributed to heroin and prescription opioids nearly tripled in Onondaga County.1

The 2017-18 state budget increases funding by $43 million over last year – for a total of $213 million – to fight the heroin epidemic and increase access to treatment for New Yorkers struggling with a substance abuse disorder. This funding supports a variety of treatment and prevention programs, including family support navigators, peer supports, recovery clubhouses and community coalitions, and $10 million in additional capital support to increase the number of beds in in-patient treatment facilities.

“The heroin epidemic continues to devastate our communities and the toll is growing, so it was absolutely necessary to include a funding boost in the budget,” said Stirpe. “As we approach the sixth anniversary of New York’s Good Samaritan Law, we must remember to look out for one another and provide help for those that need it.”

Further, Stirpe successfully fought for $10,000 in funding for ACR Health, an organization that provides support services for people with a variety of conditions, including substance abuse disorders. This funding will allow ACR Health to expand its harm reduction initiatives and get more Central New Yorkers on the road to recovery, noted Stirpe. The funding comes from the federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, which provides funding to drug, violence, and crime control and prevention programs.

Giving direct care workers a raise

After the executive budget was released without any funding for a direct care worker wage increase, Stirpe fought to ensure that the final state budget dedicated $14 million in 2017-18 and $146 million in 2018-19 to fund a two-year, living wage initiative for direct care workers with the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, the Office of Mental Health and the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. Direct care workers and direct support staff will receive a 3.25 percent raise on Jan. 1, 2018 and a second 3.25 percent increase on April 1, 2018.

“Direct care workers serve our most vulnerable residents and provide critical support, but sadly the industry suffers from a worker shortage due to low wages,” said Stirpe. “This measure ensures that direct care workers can support their families as they care for ours.”

Protecting affordable care

The final budget restores funding for Medicaid and other public health programs and addresses rising drug and health insurance costs so that more New Yorkers have access to the health care they need.

“Access to affordable health care is a right, not a luxury,” said Stirpe. “I fought to restore and increase funding for essential public health programs so more New Yorkers can get the care they need without paying an arm and a leg.”

The budget restores $78.8 million in proposed reductions to Medicaid and restores $37.6 million to public health programs. The measures:

• restore $20.2 million to existing prescriber prevails provisions, which ensure patients and their doctors have the final say in choosing medication in managed care and fee-for-service plans;
• allocate $14.6 million to restore the Essential Plan and reject proposed co-payment and premium increases;
• provide $6.3 million to reject the executive proposal to limit coverage for over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and increase OTC co-payments; and
• provide Medicaid coverage for donor breast milk for hospitalized, high-risk preterm infants who can’t receive breast milk from their mothers.

Further, the budget restores $10 million in cuts to emergency rooms across New York State, as well as $20 million for mental health facilities.

The state budget also provides funding for a variety of public health priorities, including:

• $1 million for Community Health Advocates, which helps New Yorkers understand their health insurance and access the health care services they need;
• over $1 million for HIV/AIDS Community Service Programs (CSPs) and Multi Service Agencies (MSA);
• $750,000 for Family Planning Services;
• $500,000 for New Alternatives for Children;
• $500,000 for the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP);
• $250,000 for the Nurse Family Partnership.

Funding senior services

The 2017-18 state budget provides $13.5 million to support long-term care, including restoring $10 million to preserve spousal refusal, ensuring couples do not lose their life savings in the event a spouse becomes ill and needs nursing home care.

Additionally, the budget includes:

• $2.7 million to prevent limiting Managed Long Term Care eligibility to only those eligible for nursing homes; and
• $750,000 to restore nursing home bed hold payments for therapeutic leave.

Expanding access to affordable housing

The 2017-18 state budget provides $2.5 billion for affordable housing and anti-homelessness initiatives, much of which was appropriated last year but could only be released once a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was agreed to. The budget releases this money and provides:

• $1 billion for supportive housing to construct 6,000 or more units statewide, including $50 million in operating aid;
• $150 million for the Middle-Income Housing Program;
• $125 million for senior housing;
• $45 million for the Rural and Urban Community Investment Fund Program; and
• $10 million for the Main Street Program, which helps fund preservation efforts in historic neighborhoods.

“Stable housing is crucial for the well-being of New York families, particularly children,” said Stirpe. “By funding these initiatives, we can make sure more of our neighbors can find affordable housing or stay in their homes.

_____________________________