cpofnys.org

Volume 20 - Issue #2     

CP of NYS NewsBackToTop

February 13, 2014 

In This Issue
CP of NYS Offers Testimony on Executive Budget
Honoring the Promise
Schwans Frozen Foods Helping Elks Support Home Service Program
Aspire's Thomas Sy Named Among Most Influential in WNY
CP Rochester Dental Clinic Honored
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CP OF NYS OFFERS TESTIMONY ON EXECUTIVE BUDGET

On February 3 Barbara Crosier, Vice President, Government Relations for CP of NYS, presented testimony on behalf of the organization before a joint hearing of the NYS Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means Committees.

Key points of the testimony included:

  • a call for an end to hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts in funding to supports and services for people with developmental disabilities in the past three years. Ms. Crosier also noted that more than $300 million is recommended to be eliminated from service investment spending by the NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) in the next three years. She urged legislators to provide necessary funding to end the denial of services for people with developmental disabilities.
  • an urgent call for legislators to work with advocates and providers to ensure that OPWDD's failed "Front Door" policy does not further jeopardize New York's agreement with the federal government to implement a Medicaid program that fairly treats recipients, rather than working to delay and deny critical services to eligible New Yorkers.
  • a reminder that the State's financial issues with the federal government cannot be used as an excuse to exact payment from the not-for-profit community that did not receive the funds now questioned by CMS and a Congressional Committee.
  • strong support for Governor Cuomo's proposal to expand the exemption from the Nurse Practice Act for medication administration to people in non-certified OPWDD settings.
  • strong support for the Governor's proposal to restore the MRT 2% across the board cut for Article 28 and Article 16 clinics that serve people with developmental disabilities.
  • a request for the creation of a clinical advisory panel within DOH to advise on the impact of programs and fiscal policy changes on people with disabilities. 

Ms. Crosier closed her testimony by asking legislators to help ensure that people with developmental disabilities are not harmed and the success of the past is not forsaken and reversed by continuing the cycle of annual cuts in funding.

Read the entire text of the testimony here

Barbara Crosier

 

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HONORING THE PROMISE

The New York State Constitution made a promise to care for those who cannot care for themselves. For New Yorkers with developmental disabilities that promise was affirmed in the Willowbrook Consent Decree signed by Governor Hugh Carey in 1975, requiring the State to move people with disabilities from institutions into appropriate community settings.

Ongoing budget problems leave us in danger of breaking our promise to care for New Yorkers who need our help. New York is better than that. We are asking Governor Andrew Cuomo not to propose or support further cuts in our ability to keep New York's promise.

Budget cuts to supports and services affect real people - real New Yorkers - including people with developmental disabilities and those who provide their supports and services.

Please ask the Governor to KEEP THE PROMISE TO THE MOST VULNERABLE NEW YORKERS.

View and sign the petition at
SCHWANS FROZEN FOODS HELPING ELKS SUPPORT HOME SERVICE PROGRAM

If you buy anything from Schwans Frozen Foods and sign up with the web address below, a portion of your purchases will go to NYS Elks Major Projects, which supports the CP of NYS Home Service Program. This is an easy way to raise much needed funds for the Home Service Program. The Schwans campaign started February 10 and continues for 45 days.

The New York State Elks Association's annual donation to the CP of NYS Home Service Program tops $450,000.00 to help provide supports and services for thousands of people with disabilities and their families all across New York State. If you buy from Schwans Frozen Foods, please use the link below to make your purchases in February and March.

Al Shibley


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ASPIRE'S THOMAS SY NAMED AMONG MOST INFLUENTIAL IN WNY

Thomas Sy, President and CEO of CP of NYS Affiliate Aspire of Western New York, has been named among the most influential people in Western New York by
Business First, Buffalo's Business Magazine.  Business First reporters and editors voted on people nominated by readers of the publication. A person must be respected both within their organizations and in the community at large, in order to be chosen for the honor.

Mr. Sy has been at Aspire since 2000 and has overseen extraordinary growth in the number of people served as well as the quantity and quality of supports and services provided by Aspire WNY.

Al Shibley


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CP ROCHESTER DENTAL CLINIC HONORED

CP Rochester's Family Dental Center, one of the few dental offices in the region specializing in the oral care for individuals with disabilities, has been awarded the prestigious '2014 Health Care Achievement Award' from the Rochester Business Journal. The Family Dental Center was recognized for its excellence and innovation, as well as for making a significant impact on the quality of health care in Rochester.

Al Shibley


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