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Emerging Issues
NY Health Act (Single Payer)
StateWide supports the right of New Yorkers to have a universal, single payer health system, eliminating premiums and co-payments for access to quality health care services. For more information please see the following link: https://www.nyhcampaign.org/learn or view our FAQ on NY Health and Medicare.
Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act
StateWide’s members are advocating that the state must make sure that there is sufficient staff to respond in a timely manner to a hospital or nursing home patient’s call bell. Safe nursing staff to patient ratios reduce accidents, prevent infections and save lives. For more information please see the following link: https://www.nysna.org/what’s-proposed-law#.W2TMbPZFz8w
Medicare Observation Status
Medicare requires 3 days of inpatient placement requirement to qualify for Part A coverage of post acute rehab in a skilled nursing facility. However, Medicare policies enacted a few years ago dictate that hospitals place many older persons staying overnight into “outpatient observation status” instead of admitting them that thus they areunable to meet the 3 day requirement. This places them at risk for paying the full cost of such care. Read more…
Home Care Crisis
StateWide is providing leadership to advocate on a new policy platform to address recruitment and retention incentives for home care workers. We have found significant gaps in services based on a shortage of needed home care workers that allow a senior in need of assistance to remain in their own homes. Read our policy paper and join our coalition of supporters.
Applications for the Home Energy Assistance Program will be accepted by local departments of social services beginning on Tuesday, November 13.
A household can receive a one-time regular HEAP benefit of up to $726 if they are eligible. Eligibility is based on income, household size and how the home is heated. A family of four can have a household income of up to $55,178 a year, or $4,598 a month, and still...
read moreSocial Security Announces 2.8 Percent Benefit Increase for 2019
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 67 million Americans will increase 2.8 percent in 2019, the Social Security Administration announced today. The 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable...
read moreCMS announces 2019 Medicare Parts A & B premiums and deductibles
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the 2019 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for Medicare Parts A and B. “CMS is committed to empowering beneficiaries with the information they need to make informed decisions about...
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