Alert in bold white letters on a red background
The following alert is from the New York Association on Independent Living, (NYAIL) …
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Make two calls today! Pass the Home Care Transparency Act!
We didn’t win full Fair Pay for Home Care in this year’s budget. All of us in the Caring Majority know that the home care crisis will continue to grow - and we need hard data to back us up in the continued fight for Fair Pay.
The New York State Department of Health collects data on the scope of the home care crisis that they have kept behind closed doors for too long. It’s time for this information to be made public so that we can show where changes in the system are most needed.
Take action TODAY to help us pass the Home Care Transparency Act (A8173C / S7372-B) this session.
CALL LEADERSHIP NOW!
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins: (518) 455-2585
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie: 518-455-3791
Script:
Hi, my name is XXXX. I want to thank [NAME OF LEADER] for their work addressing the home care crisis in the budget this year. As we know, New York still hasn’t fully addressed the home care shortage and it is likely to get worse in the coming year. I’m calling to urge [NAME OF LEADER] to place the Home Care Transparency Act A8173C/S7372-B on the agenda of the Rules Committee so that it can be brought to the floor for a vote. This Act would require the Department of Health to publish data on a quarterly basis on their website regarding Medicaid-funded home care usage rates and the number of authorized hours people can’t fill. Lawmakers, advocates and the public need to know the level of need in order to fully assess the scope of the home care crisis and determine needed changes to the system. Can we count on [NAME OF LEADER] to add A8173C/S7372-B to the Rules Committee agenda this session?
We need transparent home care data demonstrating the level of the crisis we face as one more formidable tool in our tool belts as we continue to fight for Fair Pay for Home Care and investment in home care.
With gratitude for each and every one of you in this determined movement,
Zahara Zahav, Organizing Director, JFREJ I NY Caring Majority
Gemma Calinda, Hudson Valley Organizer, Hand in Hand I NY Caring Majority
Julia Solow, Lead NY Caring Majority Organizer, Hand in Hand I NY Caring Majority
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If you are interested disability advocacy issues like this one, contact Colleen Downs, Systems Advocate at:
518-563-9058 Ext. 110
The Mission of the North Country Center for Independence is to help people with disabilities to live more independent and productive lives, and promote better policies and community understanding of disability issues. NCCI serves people with disabilities, families, and the community on issues related to physical and mental disabilities. NCCI is led and staffed mostly by people with disabilities. It is one of the 41 Independent Living Centers in New York State. There are also hundreds of similar centers throughout the United States. NCCI serves Clinton and Essex Counties, New York.