Introduction

As indicated in previous NYAHSA communications, the Regional Advisory Committees (RACs) of the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century are in the process of holding public hearings.  So far, hearings have been held in the Central, Hudson Valley, New York City, Northern and Western regions.  The first Long Island region hearing, scheduled for March 2nd  was cancelled. 

With the Manhattan hearing not yet scheduled, the remaining hearings are as follows:

RAC Hearings

Specific locations of the hearings, information on testifying, and updates are posted on the Commission’s Web site at: http://www.nyhealthcarecommission.org/hearings/index.htm.

NYAHSA Testimony

NYAHSA staff and members of the Association’s Continuing Care Restructuring Task Force are testifying once in each of the six regions.  So far NYAHSA has testified in the Northern and Hudson Valley regions.  We are making plans to also testify in Jamestown, Riverhead, Rochester and Manhattan.

You can access a copy of the testimony we delivered in the Hudson Valley by clicking here or searching for NYAHSA Doc. ID #14503601 on the NYAHSA Web site (www.nyahsa.org).  We developed this testimony with the assistance of our task force.

NYAHSA’s testimony emphasizes the need to make well-informed decisions about nursing home capacity based on reliable data and appropriate assumptions, and in recognition of the changing nature of nursing home care and the broader context of the continuing care delivery system.

Members Encouraged to Participate

NYAHSA continues to strongly encourage its members to participate in the hearings and otherwise educate the RACs on the realities of nursing home service needs, capacity and rightsizing/restructuring efforts, as well as issues with the availability of community services, low-income assisted living, and senior housing.  

Even if your organization cannot testify at a hearing, please consider submitting written comments.  Instructions for doing so are found byclicking on your region at: http://www.nyhealthcarecommission.org/hearings/index.htm.

Continuing care has not been consistently well represented at the hearings so far, and we want to make sure that the RAC members receive a balance of viewpoints so they can make educated recommendations on nursing home capacity.

Conclusion

If you have any questions, concerns or reactions to the Commission’s activities, please contact me at (518) 449-2707, ext. 128 or dheim@nyahsa.org.  

We will continue to keep members updated on further developments in this area.