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2023 End of Session Update New York State
Speech-Language-Hearing Association
The New York State Legislature adjourned the 2023 legislative session on June 10, 2023. The Senate completed its work around 3am that morning with Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins ending the session saying, "see you in 2024!" The Assembly adjournment ended later that day with the caveat that they would be returning before the end of June to complete some unfinished business. Media reports indicate that the Assembly will return on June 20-21 for a two-day special session. While an agenda has not yet been formally announced by Assembly leadership, we do not anticipate any action to be taken by the Assembly that will impact NYSSLHA.
An Emergency Rule was issued on October 13 by NYSDOH related to telehealth services that are reimbursable under Medicaid and have been in place since early in the pandemic. The extension allowed the continuation of Medicaid coverage for telehealth, including telephone and audio-only technologies. The Emergency Rule expires December 21, 2021 and may be adopted, extended or discontinued by such date.
NYSSLHA Lobby Day and State Budget Update
As this issue of the Communicator goes to print, Governor Kathy Hochul and State legislators are negotiating to reach a Final Budget agreement, having missed the April 1, 2023 deadline.
On Friday, February 10, NYSSLHA held a virtual Lobby Day organized by Reid, McNally & Savage on State Budget issues and a key legislative priority. Those in attendance included NYSSLHA President Tina Caswell, Past President and GA Chair, Amy Bergen, and members of the GA Committee: Sal Gruttadauria, and Laurie Hanin. Meetings were held with top finance and program staff for the Senate Majority Leader and Assembly Speaker, and the offices of the Senate and Assembly Chairs of Education, Higher Education, and Health Committees.
These meetings were timed in early February in order to influence the development of the Senate and Assembly’s One House Budget proposals, which represent each legislative body’s response to the Governor’s proposed Executive Budget. The One House Budgets were issued on March 14, 2023.
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EI SERVICES NEEDED!! #earlychildhoodeducation #SLP #babiespeech #toddlerslanguage![]()
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Babies and toddlers in NY are aging out of Early Intervention before they are able to receive evaluations or needed services. NY must invest in this critical program. @GovKathyHochul @AndreaSCousins @CarlHeastie @Kennedy4Senate![]()
@CPeoplesStokes @NYSenatorRivera @AmyPaulin![]()
Another Voice: Early Intervention must be better funded in New York State
buffalonews.com
EI provides assessment and therapy services along with family supports that positively impact many areas of a child’s development. Areas include health, language, speech, cognitive and social/emotio...
ACTION ALERT! ![]()
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2024-25 State Budget Action Alert![]()
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YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED! Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature are still negotiating the State Budget for the upcoming fiscal year. They need to hear from you that adequate investment in the NYS Early Intervention program must be included in the Final Budget.![]()
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Please make just three quick phone calls this week to let the Governor and your state legislators know that babies and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities can’t wait any longer to receive the essential, life-changing early intervention services they need. Encourage them to invest in New York’s children by passing a State Budget that includes an 11% increase in Early Intervention reimbursement rates and rejects concerning cuts which will harm therapy delivery potential.![]()
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NY’s children and families deserve the best chance possible to thrive and grow to their full potential. Please make your voice heard today by calling Governor Hochul and your State Senator and Assemblymember using the talking points below to ask for their support for Early Intervention in the Final Budget.![]()
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Instructions for Calling Governor Hochul & Your Representatives![]()
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· To leave a message for Governor Hochul, call 518-474-8390, then press 1 to leave a voicemail![]()
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· Find your Senator here or call the Senate switchboard and ask for your Senator: 518-455-2800![]()
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· Find your Assemblymember here or call the Assembly switchboard and ask for your Assemblymember: 518-455-4100![]()
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Key Talking Points/Sample Call Script:![]()
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· Hello, my name is _________, and I'm a constituent and [speech-language pathologist/audiologist] providing services in your district. I am calling to request the [Governor/Senator/Assemblymember’s] support for critically needed investment in the York State Early Intervention Program.![]()
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o Ask #1: One way the [Governor/Senator/Assemblymember] can support young children is by ensuring an 11% increase in reimbursement rates for all Early Intervention Services delivered in person is included in the New York State 2024-2025 budget. Early Intervention desperately needs investment following decades of stagnant payment rates which has caused severe shortages of Early Intervention providers, leading to delays and lack of in-person services.![]()
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o Ask #2: Additionally, I ask that the proposed administrative EI billing changes be rejected in the final budget. These changes will limit consecutive home visits and group session sizes and significantly cut telehealth reimbursement. Reducing telehealth rates by 30% is deeply concerning as these services require the same documentation, but often more preparation to ensure families are prepared for sessions. These proposed cuts will significantly hinder delivery potential and further limit access to these important services.![]()
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· EI services can change a child’s developmental path and all of New York’s children deserve a chance to grow to their full potential. Please support an 11% increase and reject the administrative proposals in the 2024-2025 State budget, we are counting on the [Governor/Senator/Assemblymember’s] support. Thank you!
NYSSLHA ADVOCACY! #earlyintervention #slpadvocacy ![]()
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Thank you to the New York State Assembly for including an 11% increase for Early Intervention in you One House Budget! The program is in critical need of investment to be able to serve the babies, toddlers and their families who rely on these life changing services! Thank you Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Amy Paulin!![]()
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Tina Caswell Zhanneta Shapiro NYSSLHA
NYSSLHA ADVOCACY! #earlyintervention #slpadvocacy ![]()
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Thank you to the New York State Assembly for including an 11% increase for Early Intervention in you One House Budget! The program is in critical need of investment to be able to serve the babies, toddlers and their families who rely on these life changing services! Thank you Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Amy Paulin!
2024-25 State Budget ACTION ALERT! ![]()
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NYSSLHA Email Campaign in Support of Early Intervention Provider Rate Increase![]()
Your voice is needed! Throughout the rest of March, the Governor and New York State Legislature will be negotiating the State Budget for the upcoming fiscal year. They need to hear from you that adequate investment in the NYS Early Intervention Program is a top priority.![]()
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Please let Governor Hochul and your state legislators know that babies and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities can't wait any longer to receive the essential, life-changing early intervention services they need. Encourage them to invest in New York's children by passing a State Budget that includes an 11 percent increase in early intervention reimbursement rates and rejects concerning cuts which will harm therapy delivery potential.![]()
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New York's children and families deserve the best chance possible to thrive and grow to their full potential. Please make your voice heard today by sending the email below to Governor Hochul and your State Senator and Assemblymember. ![]()
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To Email Governor Hochul: Visit the Governor’s Contact Form, complete the fields, and copy the message below, being sure to personalize the highlighted areas.![]()
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To Email Your Legislators: Using the tools below, navigate to your legislators’ contact page to locate their email address.![]()
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Find your Senator here![]()
Find your Assemblymember here![]()
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- Please Personalize the Highlighted Areas in the Sample Letter Below Before Sending.![]()
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Dear [Governor Hochul/Senator/Assemblymember]:![]()
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As a constituent and [speech-language pathologist/audiologist] providing services in your district, I am writing to request your support for critically needed investment in the New York State Early Intervention Program.![]()
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Infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities across New York State are not receiving early intervention services guaranteed to them under state and federal laws. Thousands of young children are denied on-time therapies, losing critical opportunities for growth during a time when their brains are developing rapidly. Unfortunately, some children age out before they are able to receive any services. These delays disproportionately impact children of color, who are less likely to receive services within the prescribed timeframe.![]()
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These service delays are the result of an exodus of providers leaving the field due to compensation insufficiency. Early intervention providers earn less in 2024, than they did in 1994. Adequate investment in EI will assist providers in meeting the growing costs of business due to administrative burdens imposed by the Department of Health (DOH), help to mitigate numerous cuts to the program over the last 10-15 years, increase provider participation in the program and ensure that infants and toddlers have timely and adequate access to services.![]()
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Please consider supporting young children by ensuring the following are included in New York State 2024-2025 budget.![]()
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Please include an 11 percent increase in reimbursement rates for all early intervention services delivered in person. The primary cause of the delays and lack of in-person services is a severe shortage of therapists and other early intervention professionals, a result of decades of stagnant payment rates coupled with a payment system that is not providing increased compensation for the added costs, such as transportation and travel time, of delivering services in person at a child’s home or child care program.![]()
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Please reject the concerning administrative proposals that will change billing requirements by limiting consecutive home visits and group session size and significantly cut reimbursement by reducing telehealth rates to match existing facility rates. In particular, cutting telehealth by nearly 30 percent is deeply concerning as these services require the same documentation and often require more advance preparation to ensure families are prepared for their sessions. These proposed cuts will significantly hinder delivery potential and further limit access to these important services.![]()
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Early intervention services can change a child’s developmental path and an 11 percent increase is a step toward ensuring that children have access to the professionals and services that they need to achieve optimum success. All of New York’s children deserve a chance to thrive and grow to their full potential. Now more than ever, early intervention needs investment, not cuts. We are counting on your support of this critical and life-changing program.![]()
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Sincerely,![]()
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[Your Name]
Sponsors
Main Office
New York State Speech-Language-Hearing
Association, Inc.
1971 Western Avenue #1167
Albany, NY 12203
800-NYSSLHA (800-697-7542)
Fax 412-366-8804
info@nysslha.org
1971 Western Avenue #1167
Albany, NY 12203
800-NYSSLHA (800-697-7542)
Fax 412-366-8804
info@nysslha.org
©2023 New York State Speech-Language-Hearing Association. All rights reserved.