New York – Community Org. Affected By Medicaid Redesign Advocating In Albany For Help

New York – New York State budget planning for the 2012 fiscal year is well under way. Various groups seeking funding are in Albany meeting with the governor’s office and members of the state legislature. This year, with Governor Cuomo revamping the structure for Medicaid allocations, a primary focus of lobbyists is to limit budget cuts and closures to not-for-profit community organizations. A Medicaid Redesign Team has been tasked to present their recommendations regarding the restructure before the Governor. No doubt, this will be one of the most contentious issues debated upon before the budget resolution in April.

Community groups serving the special needs community are especially affected by the Medicaid redesign. State funding is critical to the survival of these organizations that support this very vulnerable population. Human Care Services, one of the groups advocating before our legislators and the redesign team, is passionate about the need to ensure budget stability for services affecting individuals with special needs. After spending a day in Albany, Human Care Services Executive Director Esther Lustig is hopeful that her efforts, and the efforts of other lobbyist groups, will bear fruit.

Human Care Services also took the opportunity to thank and update its friends in the legislature. After meeting with Assebleyman Dov Hikind in his office to thank him for funding that he gave, the Assemblyman remarked “Everyone has their own tafkid in life. I am envious of the job that you have, providing for the most vulnerable with such love and compassion. It is a zchus for me to be able to have facilitated funding that your organization needs to carry out its mission.”

Equally impressed upon meeting with the Human Care Services delegation was Assemblyman Felix Ortiz. As Chairman of the Mental Health, Assemblyman Ortiz has visited the Human care facilities in the past and had this to say after receiving an update on its progress “ I am confident that we can make great strides this year in services to those who are mentally and physically disabled. I look forward to working with the various agencies that provide services for these communities. The Human Care Services for Families and Children, Inc. is an example of an extraordinary organization within my own district that serves both persons with physical and developmental disabilities. It is organizations like this that offer hope and support to so many families in our communities”

Mrs. Lustig shares her synopsis of the experience with VIN by stating “After meeting with the Medicaid Redesign Team and legislative leaders, it is clear that the short and long term ramifications of budget cuts to services for special needs individuals are ominous. Community leaders and parents of special needs individuals must do everything they can to prevent this from occurring”.

Mrs. Lustig encourages interested parties to contact her at Human Care Services at 718-854-2747 to receive information on ways in which to influence the Medicaid redesign.