2007-2008 Budget -- Joint Budget Hearing
Conducted By:
Senate Finance Committee, Assembly Ways & Means Committee, Senate Health Committee, Assembly Health Committee Hearing Room B, Legislative Office Building, Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York
February 13, 2007
Good Morning.
My name is Michael Burgess and I am the Acting Director of the State Office for the Aging. I wish to begin my testimony by thanking each of you in the Senate and Assembly for the deep concern you hold for New York’s elders and for your support of the aging programs that promote their independence. I am honored to be selected to lead the Office for the Aging and look forward to the challenges of my new position.
We meet today at an extraordinary time. In the last three decades of the Twentieth Century, we as a society improved the quality of life for older Americans by increasing life expectancy by several years and reducing the poverty by more than half. This didn’t happen by accident. Community organizations, labor, churches, the aging network, the health care and social services networks working with public officials like you have built an income support and services infrastructure that made this happen.
Now, we are at crossroads as the Baby Boomers are on the precipice of becoming the Elder Boomers. Some say we can’t afford to continue this progress. We can’t go back and we won’t. The challenge is how to continue to provide the caring services people need in a more cost effective way. That is the challenge I accept in taking this job.
One of my initial and primary challenges as Aging’s Director will be to answer Governor Spitzer’s priority to move toward a more patient-centered approach to health care which will lower the cost of health care while improving patient outcomes. For the Office for the Aging, this pledge means continuing and advancing our community-centered, family-centered, caregiver-centered and customer-centered approaches to meeting the needs of our elderly. Concretely this entails, among many other actions, LTCOP staff working in nursing homes and adult homes to secure patients rights; HIICAP staff educating seniors on the availability of prescription drug coverage; as well as EISEP, CSE & SNAP funded efforts to support services that keep seniors independent and in their communities, and support the seniors’ family and other informal caregivers who give the loving care they need. Clearly, we are at a critical turning point, and we at Aging recognize the need to realign our health care system from the current institutional-based care model, toward an approach to care that is more economically sustainable and more responsive to the type of services older persons want.
Funding for Aging Network programs is an important part of the Governor’s strategy to curtail more expensive long term care services through provision of community-based non-medical services, such as those provided by the EISEP program and by supporting the role of families and friends in caring for loved ones. Today, 80 percent of the state’s Aging Network resources are committed toward maintaining the independence of the impaired elderly who are the most immediate at-risk of Medicaid dependency. Sustaining the independence of elders - and the network that supports that independence - is a wise investment!
A central pillar of the Aging Network’s approach is to support the family and other informal caregivers, who provide 80 percent of the care received by our elders. Caregiver arrangements exist in approximately 734,000 NYS households, or one-in-ten of all NYS households. According to a study by the National Caregivers Association and Family Caregivers Alliance, based on 2004 data, the estimated value of informal caregiving for the elderly in New York State is approximately $20 billion annually. Families will go to extraordinary lengths to keep an older relative at home. In fact, the strength or weakness of an older person’s informal supports has proven to be an even better predictor of nursing home placement than the older person’s own physical and mental health status. Aging Network programs provide case management, home care, respite and other services targeted to support the frequently heavy burden of caregiving, thus alleviating the likelihood of a breakdown in informal caregiver services and the shifting of caregiving responsibilities and costs to the public sector. As I will later discuss in more depth, in recognition of the importance of caregivers, Governor Spitzer’s Executive Budget provides $200,000 in new funding to establish a Family Caregiving Council to develop recommendations to address customer need.
An essential pillar of the Governor’s vision for reform is the recognition of the value, importance, desirability and cost-effectiveness of the non-medical services provided through the Aging Network to elders that are not eligible for Medicaid. It is our mission as the State Office for the Aging, in partnership with the network of public and private organizations which serve our elderly, to assist older New Yorkers to be as independent as possible for as long as possible through delivery of cost-effective programs and services. Our efforts to address the challenges presented by a growing elderly population are rooted in the deepest principle of our aging services philosophy: to promote the independence of seniors by serving them - where they want to be served and where it is most cost-effective to serve them - in their homes and communities. Further, our advocacy efforts at the state and federal levels, as well as our policy and program development activities, support and empower our elders and their caregivers.
I would like to briefly put in context - why it is so important to act now to implement the Governor’s consumer-centered strategy to strengthen the delivery of effective and cost-efficient community-based services.
Demographics A community-based service approach that promotes senior independence and community involvement takes on greater significance as we experience the advent of the “graying of America.” To put it bluntly, the social fabric of every community is undergoing profound changes due to the continuing growth of the elderly population. The projected nationwide growth in the age 65 and age 85 populations is unprecedented and profound. The dynamic changes in the state’s elderly and impaired populations are being brought about by the transition of the Baby Boom generation to the Elder Boom generation, as over the past few years the first wave of Boomers have entered the age 60+ population.
Service Population New York’s most vulnerable elderly populations (the frail, older and minority elderly) - those most affected by long term care needs and compounding health, social and economic problems - will continue to grow at a rate much faster than that of the general population. Between 2000 and 2015, the number of impaired elderly, seniors age 85 and older, and minority elderly will increase respectively by 16.6 percent, 28.2 percent and 50.8 percent, while the state’s overall population is expected to increase by just 8.25 percent by 2015.
Communities While shifting population demographics raise many issues we must address and have broad implications for our resources, it also creates new opportunities. In fact it presents New York with an unprecedented opportunity, as our Baby Boom generation is expected to continue their generation’s tradition of commitment and service to their communities. They represent the very resources we need to sustain and create vital communities throughout New York. The potential of this generation awakens us to the benefits presented by the aging of the Baby Boomers – and inspires us to view this aging phenomenon not simply as a cause for concern but also as a cause for optimism. Maintaining this generation in our communities provides concrete benefits not only in terms of the easing of worker and caregiver shortages, but also in terms of the economic benefits that ensue from their presence in their communities. People who are connected to their communities through civic engagement, employment and family remain living in that community - helping their family, neighbors, community and ultimately, the state as a whole. Our HIICAP and LTCOP programs, which I will talk about in more detail later on, exemplify the great benefits to community that result when older New Yorkers volunteer their knowledge and abilities. These volunteers undergo extensive training to be able to assist others in, for example: selecting pharmaceutical drug coverage and long term care insurance, and championing the rights of seniors in nursing and adult homes. Such individual contributions to community are vitally important, and it is our challenge to support the framework that strengthens the ties of older New Yorkers to their communities and thus strengthens their communities.
Long Term Care Reform For the good of our communities, our seniors, and our State, Governor Spitzer recently challenged us to look past the health care system we have, and to begin the transformation to the health care system we need. The Governor’s plan to move toward a patient-centered care system boldly acknowledges the necessity of reforming the current long term care system.
Governor Spitzer’s reform plan promotes individual choice, supports independence to the greatest extent possible, and recognizes the importance of caregivers and community-based care services. Cognizant of the importance of home care, his plan to contain costs would not impose a freeze on rates to home care providers. Further, the Governor’s 2007-08 Executive Budget proposal provides funding in the Department of Health Budget for various activities, related to POE and long term care reform.
We at the State Office for the Aging are working with our sister state agencies, local area agencies on aging, aging and health service networks, and also importantly, consumers, to implement reform.
As a first step to long term care reform our Office and the Department of Health (DOH) worked jointly to develop a non-competitive Point of Entry (POE) Request for Application (RFA) that was released to counties in May, 2006. The RFA included Standards to guide program design and implementation of county-based local points of entry to the long term care system. Each local POE, now branded and promoted statewide as NY Connects: Choices for Long Term Care (NY Connects), will provide a consumer-centered entry point for information about the array of long term care support options, programs and available benefits. NY Connects will be available to assist individuals who need long term care, their caregivers and those planning for future long term care needs, whether it is anticipated that public or private sources of payment will be used. It is not the service provider, but rather the service connector. It will be available to consumers of all ages requiring long term care, regardless of payer source. In addition, NY Connects will serve as a resource for helping professionals and others who provide long term care services to the elderly and people of all ages with physical disabilities.
As a result of the statewide response to the RFA, NYSOFA has executed 45 county POE contracts to date and all counties, except for Oswego, have decided to participate in the first year. During the initial phase of the implementation, counties are developing the infrastructure to support POE operations, engaging in local long term care planning and collaboration through the establishment of a Long Term Care Council (LTCC), and instituting the required, state specified core functions of information and assistance, screening and public education. These local Long Term Care Councils are particularly important at the community level. Although advisory in nature, they are designed to bring the wide variety of stakeholders together to identify available community services, programs, facilities and supports – non-medical and medical – and determine where gaps may exist. Importantly, it is to facilitate bringing stakeholders together to problem-solve challenges they face in their community, identify and build upon what works, and recommend how the system can be improved.
During the past year, NYSOFA staff, often along with our DOH partner, met with approximately 100 statewide organizations, provider and other stakeholder groups to advance POE implementation. Further, NYSOFA has created a Technical Advisory Group comprised of four local Commissioners of Social Services and four Directors of Area Agencies on Aging to provide advice and guidance during planning and implementation. As POE activities progress, we along with our partners at DOH, will continue to make a concerted effort to seek out stakeholder input.
During the coming year, NYSOFA, in conjunction with DOH, will continue planning and implementation efforts, including provision of training to county NY Connects entities and issuance of an IT RFP for a statewide web-based and HIIPA compliant IT information and assistance resource provider platform. This database system will provide access to consumers, caregivers, and professionals on the array of long term care resources available – providing the information necessary to improve the customer’s quality of life through early intervention and the provision of assistance in the least restrictive setting, reflective of the customer’s preference to remain independent as long as possible.
As evidenced by Governor Spitzer’s plan to implement a new patient-first approach to health care, implementation of Point of Entry is an integral component for successfully reforming the current long term care system, and continued funding for our POE efforts is included in the Department of Health Budget.
Another key component of the Governor's strategy to reform Long Term Care, and meet patient needs through a customer-first approach, is his proposed expansion of the Long Term Care Managed Care Program. This program is particularly effective at managing the care needs of individuals dealing with multiple chronic diseases or co-morbidities.
Family Caregiver Council As stated earlier, 80% of care is provided by family, friends and neighbors. The 2007-08 Executive Budget provides $200,000 in new funding to establish a Family Caregiving Council to gather information on family caregiving, evaluate the impact of current programs and policies on family caregiving, and develop recommendations to address unmet need. Sustaining the cost-effective, individualized support system of informal caregivers is a primary focus of the Aging Network. The Council will take a cross-sector approach to community-involvement and will include state agencies, academic experts and caregivers as well as other parties. Their mission will be to look across the age spectrum of care and develop strategies to support those of any age who provide care - be they grandparents caring for children, caregivers for our elders, spouse of a younger person stricken with a chronic illness, or parent of a child with special health care needs.
Aging Network Programs In recognition of the importance of helping older persons remain as independent as possible and in the setting of their choosing, the Governor’s SFY 2007-08 Budget provides funding for NYSOFA’s core programs. The Executive Budget provides an increase of $8,471,000 for Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) to be portioned among the Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly (EISEP), Community Services for the Elderly (CSE) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) programs. These three programs form the backbone of the Aging Network service structure and this increase will facilitate the ability of local service providers to manage the rising costs associated with service delivery. The Executive Budget provides an additional increase of $1 million in SNAP funding and $200,000 in new funding for the Family Caregiver Council. It continues funding for four programs that were funded in part or in full by Legislative “adds” in 06-07 - the AAA Transportation, Economically Sustainable Transportation Demonstration Program, Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) and the Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (Neighborhood-NORC) programs.
Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP) EISEP is a cost-effective program that keeps frail, low income older persons (who are at risk of quickly becoming Medicaid eligible) living independently in their homes and communities for as long as possible. It accomplishes this by helping to keep the elders’ informal supports intact, providing case management services to assist the individual and caregivers in using their own resources appropriately and supplementing with non-medical long term care service supports.
A 2006 NYSOFA Study of the health characteristics of EISEP customers provided further evidence of the frailty of EISEP customers and the leveraging of informal care to meet their needs. Virtually all EISEP customers meet the programmatic eligibility requirements for Medicaid personal care services - and most are very close to being financially eligible. In SFY 2005-06, EISEP provided in-home services to over 12,200 customers and case management and other services to approximately 36,600 customers. EISEP is expected to serve in excess of 17,000 in-home and 51,000 case management customers in SFY 2007-08.
EISEP provides critical support to frail older adults enabling them to maintain independence and continue to reside in their homes and community for as long as possible. The case management component, that is integral to EISEP, not only assists in identifying needs and coordinating assistance for the older person, but also helps prevent “caregiver burnout” and keep the informal network intact. These supports may be provided directly through EISEP or through other programs or community organizations. EISEP, one of the aging network’s core programs, epitomizes the consumer- and caregiver-centered approach that is the strength of the aging network.
Community Services for the Elderly (CSE) Program The Community Services for the Elderly Program provides community-based, supportive services to frail, low-income elderly who need assistance to maintain their independence at home. Its primary purposes are to reduce the heavy reliance on institutional care; provide cost-effective, non-medical community-based services; enable access to necessary information and supports; and promote the continued involvement of individual caregivers in support of their frail elderly relatives employing a community-specific service design approach.
CSE has effectively been a State aging services block grant that enables localities to determine specific unmet needs and to shape the way the delivery system is organized to respond. During SFY 2005-06, approximately 81,500 older New Yorkers benefited from CSE funded services. An overlapping categorical count of CSE customers reveals that 32,041 are low-income, 36,737 are frail and disabled, 40,340 are over the age of 75 and 40,362 live alone. These characteristics represent high risk indicators for reduced independence, isolation and the likelihood of needing community supports.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Cognizant that SNAP provided home delivered meals are a lifeline to many frail elderly, Governor Spitzer’s Executive Budget provides for an increase of $1 million in SNAP funding. This additional funding will expand the number of meals provided to elderly individuals by approximately 160,000 annually. To be eligible for home delivered meals, individuals must be age 60 and over, incapacitated due to accident, illness or frailty, and be unable to prepare their own meals. The SNAP program is targeted to those who live alone, are over 75 years of age and are economically disadvantaged.
Home delivered meal service is one of the most recognized components of the community-based long term care system. At an average cost of only $6.05 for a home delivered meal (based on total Area Agency on Aging expenditures for a home delivered meal), it is an extraordinarily low-cost, efficient service. In SFY 2005-06 this program provided more than 3.7 million meals, of which more than 3.24 million were home delivered meals. Home delivered meal service is a key component in the package of in-home services necessary to meet the needs of increasing numbers of New Yorkers who require community-based long term care support or post hospital-stay nutritional assistance. Home delivered meals are more than an investment in quality of life; they are also an investment that can limit health care costs, including hospitalization and Medicaid expenditures.
Clearly, the Governor’s proposed increases in EISEP, CSE & SNAP funding are an important component in his patient- or customer-first approach to providing needed supports and services to keep elders independent and families intact.
Long Term Care Insurance Education and Outreach Program (LTCIEOP) Governor Spitzer’s 2007-08 Budget continues $3 million in local funding for the Long Term Care Insurance Education and Outreach Program (LTCIEOP). The New York State Department of Health, the Insurance Department and the Office for the Aging collaboratively implement this program through local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) to inform and educate the public about long term care insurance, including those policies that are available through the Partnership for Long Term Care Program. AAAs working in collaboration with their local Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Programs (HIICAP) are implementing Long Term Care Insurance Resource Centers throughout the state to provide outreach and education services on LTC insurance. During SFY 2006-07 Long Term Care Insurance Resource Centers were operational in 58 area agencies on aging. During 06-07 an insurance awareness campaign was launched and a hotline was created to inform individuals. Informational presentations were provided to thousands of individuals and individual counseling was provided to hundreds more.
For many people, the Medicaid program has become their long term care “safety net” and the primary source of funding these expenses. More than 80% of nursing home days in New York State are paid by Medicaid and Medicaid-financed long term care cost New York taxpayers over $8.7 billion in 2002. As the population continues to age and older New Yorkers require more care, funding for long term care becomes an even more urgent matter. Much effort has been put forth to expand the options for the types of long term care insurance policies that are available. I am hopeful that as the market grows; more options will become available, thereby, promoting alternatives to the financing of long term care and increasing attention to individual long term care financial planning.
Again, by taking a customer-first approach, we can create a rational system of private and public financed long term care services that meet the needs of people of all ages.
Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) The Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) program utilizes federal funds from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to operate a statewide network of local health insurance information counseling and assistance programs. HIICAP works directly with Medicare Beneficiaries to educate them on the Medicare Program, Medigap policies, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage Plans, Long-term Care Insurance, Low-Income Subsidy Programs, employer-sponsored insurance, and other health insurance programs that are available. In 2006, the NYS HIICAP programs successfully held over 3,050 public and media events that reached over two million New Yorkers, and provided individual counseling to approximately 80,000 customers. In April of 2006, the HIICAP program developed a statewide toll-free hotline (1-800-701-0501) so that Medicare Beneficiaries could access local counseling services by simply entering their zip code. From April through December of 2006, this hotline recorded 25,849 calls. Additionally, HIICAP Counselors, along with our AAAs and EPIC staff, have been working diligently to reduce the pool of EPIC Beneficiaries who have not yet completed the required “Request for Additional Information” form. As a result the number of EPIC Beneficiaries that have not yet provided the information has been reduced from 72,983 to 3,537. This represents an excellent and effective effort by these partners.
Medicare Part D embodies one of the most monumental changes in programs and services for older people since the inception of Medicare in 1965. Every one of New York’s 2.8 million Medicare beneficiaries is required to make decisions on whether to join a prescription drug plan and choose from the 61 plans available to New Yorkers. Each year an Annual Open Enrollment Period for the Part D benefit is held from November 15 through December 31, and Medicare beneficiaries must select among the many plans that differ by premium, formulary, annual deduction and company. Due to the complexity of the plan choices and plan benefits, many Medicare beneficiaries seek counseling through the 58 New York State HIICAPs where specially-trained counselors (usually volunteers) help clients to enroll in a plan most suited to their needs. The State Office for the Aging provides on-going training to ensure that all county coordinators and counselors are kept up-to-date on the numerous changes to this program.
Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program One of the things that I am most proud of, as a resident of New York, is the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program – the largest such program in the nation. I look forward to Co-Chairing the EPIC panel with my esteemed colleague, Dr. Daines. The EPIC program provides comprehensive prescription drug coverage for those over age 65 with incomes up to $35,000 for those that are single, and up to $50,000 for those that are married.
The SFY 2007-08 Executive Budget provides $798 million for the EPIC program to ensure that more than 372,000 senior citizens receive crucial prescription drug insurance. Over 161,000 EPIC enrollees are also enrolled in Medicare Part D plans, with approximately 92,000 EPIC enrollees eligible to receive the Part D low-income subsidy.
The Executive Budget provides a series of measures that will reduce the cost of the EPIC program, including the enrollment of all eligible seniors in Medicare Part D unless such enrollment presents a significant financial hardship. The EPIC program will cover Part D premiums to prevent increased cost to seniors as a result of coordinating benefits with the new Medicare prescription drug program, and will accelerate implementation of a preferred drug program under EPIC. Of the total of 372,000 seniors enrolled under EPIC, it is estimated that 339,000 will be enrolled in Part D. These Part D enrollees will receive EPIC wraparound benefits for greater coverage and savings, including coverage of the Part D deductible, co-payments, coverage gap, and drugs not covered - less any EPIC co-payment that will usually be lower than without Part D. This new Medicare coordination with EPIC will actually reduce co-payments for many drug purchases, dropping from EPIC’s maximum of $20 to $7. In total for SFY 2007-08, these measures will generate $63 million in State savings and $45 million in senior savings (through lower co-payments).
School Tax Relief (STAR) Program Under Governor Spitzer’s proposed Three-Year Property Tax Relief Plan, middle class homeowners will receive property tax relief in a more targeted and timely manner. For 2007-08, STAR will grow from $3.6 billion to $5.1 billion, and the Three-Year Property Tax Relief Plan will provide a total of $6 billion over the next three years in additional tax relief. In 2007-08, the Enhanced STAR exemption for seniors will reflect continuation of the cost of living adjustment provided in the current fiscal year – resulting in $48 million in additional STAR tax relief for senior citizens. Seniors across the state count on this program for substantial and much-needed tax relief. As a result of STAR, many seniors are able to remain in their homes and maintain their quality of life.
Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) The Executive Budget provides funding ($746,000) to continue local Ombudsman Program efforts to sustain the routine presence of LTCOP volunteers in long term care facilities; provide supervision, recruitment and training of existing volunteers; and, support community outreach to broaden awareness of the Ombudsman Program. The New York State Office for the Aging has worked for many years to develop a statewide Ombudsman Program that provides certified substate Ombudsmen in long term care facilities, and currently there are 46 local Ombudsman Programs providing services in all 62 counties in New York State.
The New York State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) provides opportunities for residents of long term care facilities and their families to voice concerns and develop solutions. The State Ombudsman’s local volunteers receive, investigate, and resolve a wide range of complaints about concerns for the health, safety, welfare and rights of the residents in long term care facilities. The Ombudsman Program integrates citizen volunteers, advocacy groups, residents, their families, voluntary and public agencies, health and social welfare professionals and facility staff, and develops effective working relationships which serve to improve the quality of life for the residents in long term care facilities.
During the coming year 46 local Ombudsman programs will oversee in excess of 1,600 certified volunteer Ombudsmen. Ombudsmen will serve more than 120,000 residents in 657 nursing homes and more than 40,500 residents in 1,004 adult homes/facilities - for a total of 1,661 long term care facilities that provide care to over 160,500 New York State residents. Ombudsmen anticipate handling in excess of 20,000 complaints on behalf of residents during the next fiscal year.
Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) The Executive Budget contains appropriations to help meet the needs of people who have “aged-in-place” and live in areas known as Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs). The “standard” or “traditional” NORC program’s appropriation of $2.2 million supports services for customers residing in large housing complexes, cooperatives and apartment buildings. The Governor has also included in his Budget a baseline appropriation of $2.2 million for the Neighborhood NORC program that Senator Golden and Assemblyman Englebright were so instrumental in creating. This new program supports services for customers residing in residential dwellings or designated groups of residential dwellings.
AAA Transportation Operating Expense Program The Budget provides a continuation of funding for the AAA Transportation program. The provision of transportation is essential for many older adults throughout New York State. The availability of transportation can make the difference in an elderly person receiving a meal or a caregiver ensuring that their loved one is able to attend an appointment with a doctor. Dramatic increases in operational costs have impaired the ability of local transportation programs to continue to assist seniors. The funds provided through the AAA Transportation Operating Expense Program have been very helpful to AAAs in addressing increased costs. In SFY 2005-06 area agencies statewide reported providing 2,488,466 units of transportation service from all funding sources.
Economically Sustainable Transportation Demonstration Program (ESTDP) The Executive Budget provides a continuation of funding for the Economically Sustainable Transportation Demonstration Program (ESTDP). The purpose of this program is to assist seniors to remain independent and mobile in their communities by creating an on demand transit service using volunteer and paid drivers to transport seniors. After a period of five years, the local grant recipients will no longer be eligible for State funding and must be completely self-sustaining, relying on consumer fares and voluntary community support to remain operational. One of the primary objectives is to provide an economically sustainable service to people who can no longer drive safely.
NYSOFA will make up to four awards (of approximately $55,000 each) under this program on a competitive basis to not-for-profit organizations that are incorporated within the State of New York and are capable of sponsoring an affiliated entity that will provide transportation services to qualified individuals in accordance with an affiliate application designed by ITNAmerica™ (which has been endorsed and accepted by NYSOFA). NYSOFA anticipates issuing an RFA later this year.
Geriatric Mental Health The Geriatric Mental Health Act, which was enacted on August 23, 2005 and took effect on April 1, 2006, authorized the establishment of a geriatric service demonstration program, an Interagency Geriatric Mental Health Planning Council, and a requirement for an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature. As part of the growing attention and interest at all levels of government to advance geriatric mental health care, the Geriatric Mental Health Act calls for the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) to establish a geriatric service demonstration program to provide grants to support the provision of mental health services to the elderly. The program is administered by OMH in cooperation with the New York State Office for the Aging (OFA). The Interagency Geriatric Mental Health Planning Council consists of fifteen members, including the Director of the State Office for the Aging, who is co-chair of the Council. The Council meets at least four times per calendar year to develop recommendations to be submitted to the Commissioner of OMH and the Director of NYSOFA regarding geriatric mental health needs.
IN CLOSING, I consider Governor Spitzer’s bold actions presented in his 2007-08 Executive Budget to be both necessary and wise. We should put the patient or customer-first, and create care options for New York’s families that keep elders connected to their communities and that pave the way for change in how we, as government, as individuals, as families meet the long term care needs of the residents of this great state. I thank all of you for your interest in aging issues and your concern for older New Yorkers; and I will be glad to entertain any questions.
