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LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
2007 ACL BUDGET/LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
COST OF LIVING INCREASE
FULLY FUND THE PROMISED COLA AND MAKE IT PERMANENT!
PRESERVE EXISTING RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS
REFORM EXISTING PROGRAMS
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
PRESERVE EXISTING RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS
LICENSED PROGRAMS:
- In addition to the COLA, add $30 million in funding for the licensed community residence program this year (minus any one time program increase in the Governor’s proposed budget.)
- This will provide a 30% increase to salaries as well as increase the fringe benefit rate to 30% so that we can provide our staff with health insurance and pay for mandatory fringe benefits.
- Providers cannot retain staff at the current reimbursement levels, which are:
- $18,500 per year upstate for a direct care worker plus 19.2% for fringe benefits
- $21,000 per year downstate for a direct care worker plus 21.3% for fringe benefits
- Direct Care Staff in licensed programs:
- Function as case managers for clients with very complex psychiatric and medical needs.
- Supervise a hundred or more medications on a shift.
- OMH does not include nursing oversight in the residential model.
- Often work alone.
- Must be crisis managers.
- Must be able to recognize complex psychiatric and medical symptoms.
- Provide rehabilitative services in all programs.
- Provide Medicaid reimbursable rehabilitative services in most programs.
- Write Medicaid billing notes in most programs.
UNLICENSED SUPPORTED HOUSING
- In addition to the COLA, add $6.5 million to downstate supported housing rates and $1 million to upstate rates (minus any one time program increase that is in the Governor’s proposed budget.)
- Increased rents have eroded the stipend paid to providers.
Staff/consumer ratios have increased from the recommended 1 staff to 10 consumers, to where they are now 1 staff to 30 consumers or 1 staff to 40 consumers in some cases. |
