Guest guest Posted March 4, 2010 Report Share Posted March 4, 2010 Hi there people. The " powers that be " in NYS have decided that they need to cut funding and are attempting to do so by taking from Early Intervention services in New York. I would really appreciate it if you could find 5 minutes to give a call to the legislation and try to prevent this from happening. If you could forward the e-mail below to any of your friends who may have been touched by Early Intervention services, I would be so grateful. Any questions, please give me a call! Thanks so much for your help! Cheryl M.S., CCC - SLP © 845-590-8586 PRIVACY NOTICE: This e-mail is meant only for the use of the intended recipient. It may contain confidential information that is legally privileged or otherwise protected by law. If you have received this communication in error, please notify me immediately by replying to this message and please delete it from your computer. Thank you for your cooperation. > From: RCDS.NY@... > capcasl@... > CC: > Subject: Save Early Intervention services for infants and toddlers with > delays. SAY NO Budget Cuts for EI > Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 20:53:56 -0500 > > Dear Valued Providers: > > As you may have already heard, there are significant proposed changes to > the 2010-2011 New York State Budget effective April 1, 2010 which will > adversely affect the provision of Early Intervention Services to the > children of New York. The proposal will affect the Early Intervention > Program in various ways. Some of the proposed changes will: > > 1. Charge Parent's Fees for Early Intervention Services. Historically the > EI program has been carried out at no cost to the family. Under the > proposed changes, parental fees would be established ranging from $45 (for > family incomes 251% of the federal poverty level) to $540 quarterly per > child (for family incomes above 1,000 % of the federal poverty level). > Families will be forced to wait for services instead of receiving them > when they are most effective when the child is below the age of three. > > 2. Reduce Early Intervention Home and Community Rates. Under the proposed > changes, rates for home-based visits would be decreased. Most children > receive their services in their homes and community settings. This will > cause the loss of qualified and experienced EI providers and add to > unemployment. THIS MEANS YOUR PAY WILL GO DOWN! > > Rates for EI providers were set in 1993 and have never been increased: > During the same period your own expenses have drastically increased - > meanwhile members of the assembly increased their own salaries by 38%. And > now they tell us that there's no money for disabled children? > > 3. Mandate that Providers directly bill claims for children enrolled in > Medicaid as well as those dually eligible for Medicaid and private > insurance. Providers will first be required to bill Medicaid and Private > Insurance and be rejected before they can bill municipalities. Although > insurance companies only pay a very small amount (less than 3%) of what is > billed to them and reject 97% agencies will be required to first be > rejected. This is a government plan to cut Early Intervention Services. > THIS MEANS YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT 2-5 MONTHS TO GET PAID! > > THESE CHANGES ARE EFFECTIVE APRIL 1 IF YOU DO NOT ACT NOW: > > Make Your Voice Heard - Tell ALBANY NO: > > These changes have not yet been approved. Voice your objections to your > elected officials. Make them take a stand against these changes so that > children with developmental delays get the services they need. > > CALL 518-474-8390 Governor A. Paterson, State Capitol, Albany, NY > 12224. > > CALL 518-455-3791 NY State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. > > CALL 518-455-2701 Senate Majority Leader Sampson > > JUST SAY NO > > Voice your objections by telephone, email, or both! Call your legislator > and/or state assembly representative's office to share your objections. > It's up to all of us to protect the kids and families we serve. > > To locate your local State Legislator, please click on the link below. > Locate your State Senator: > http://www.senate.state.ny.us/senatehomepage.nsf/senators?OpenForm > > Locate your State Assembly member: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/ > > For additional information please click on the link below: > > http://publications.budget.state.ny.us/eBudget1011/fy1011littlebook/HealthCare.h\ tml > > http://www.agenciesforchildrenstherapyservices.org/id53.html > > As always, everyone's cooperation is deeply appreciated. > > Dawn Mastoridis > State/Executive Director > dawn.mastoridis@... > > > > > > Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. Get it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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