This action alert has been updated on Monday, March 25, 2019. 

Call Your Senator & Assembly Member Today: Urge Behavioral Health Insurance Parity Reforms & 2.9% Human Services COLA Be Included in Final 2019-20 Budget

With only one week to go until a state budget is due to be adopted, NYSPA members are urged to call their Senator and Assembly Member TODAY to urge the final state budget for 2019-20 include two critical provisions.

(1) Behavioral Health Insurance Parity Reforms (BHIPR), which would dramatically curtail health insurance/health plan practices that restrict New Yorkers, suffering from Mental Health Conditions (MHCs), Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), from accessing their health insurance benefits for care and treatment. Any delay in the enactment of the BHIPR could delay the effective date by a whole year – leaving individuals and families vulnerable to utilization review and other practices that may not comply with the federal and state MH/SUD, ASD parity laws.

(2) 2.9% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for human service workers, which is critical to addressing the staffing crisis facing human service nonprofits, including escalating turnover and vacancy rates.

Negotiations and discussions on the budget continue around the clock! Please make your voice heard today!