April 18, 2025 • 26 mins
While the state budget is several days late, a breakthrough on discovery reform have pushed negotiations forward. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie met with five New York City DAs and settled on a deal rooted in compromise. State Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Senate Labor Committee Chair) talks state budget progress and a bill meant to stop the state from having to pay federal taxes in the event of cuts from Washington. The transition to one single intermediary for New Yorkers enrolled in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program has been far from smooth. State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (D-Chair of the Senate Health Committee) unpacks the issues.
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(00:01):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
(00:23):
GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL AND
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE MADE
MAJOR PROGRESS ON THE STATE
BUDGET THIS WEEK.
AS WE DISCUSS BEFORE,
NEGOTIATIONS WERE STALL OVER
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE STATE'S
DISCOVERY LAWS.
THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO CHANGE HOW
AND WHEN PROSECUTORS MUST TURN
OVER EVIDENCE IN COURT CASES,
(00:43):
BUT THE LEGISLATURE ARGUED THERE
WERE OTHER WAYS TO ADDRESS
ISSUES WITHOUT WEAKENING THE
SYSTEM.
ON TUESDAY, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
CARL HEASTIE TOLD REPORTERS THAT
THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE WAS NOW
SETTLED.
>> I SPENT THE LAST FOUR OUT OF
FIVE DAYS MYSELF AND MY COUNCIL
AND OUR CODES TEAM ACTUALLY
(01:06):
SITING WITH THE FIVE D.A.’S IN
THE CITY.
OF COURSE, MIKE MCMAHON IS THE
PRESIDENT OF THE D.A.'S
ASSOCIATION, AND I BELIEVE WE
WORK THROUGH AND WE HAVE A
FRAMEWORK ON HAVING THE
DISCOVERY ISSUE RESOLVED.
>> THIS DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTS A
MAJOR PUSH FORWARD IN
NEGOTIATIONS AND WE'LL CONTINUE
TO BRING YOU UPDATES ON THE
(01:26):
BUDGET RIGHT HERE ON THIS SHOW.
TURNING NOW TO OUR ONE-ON-ONE
INTERVIEW WITH STATE SENATOR
JESSICA RAMOS.
WE SPOKE WITH THE SENATOR ABOUT
THE STATE BUDGET PROGRESS AS
WELL AS A BILL THAT SHE'S
PUSHING THAT WOULD STOP THE
STATE FROM PAYING FEDERAL TAXES
IN THE EVENT OF CUTS COMING FROM
WASHINGTON.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
(01:47):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
ME HERE TODAY, SENATOR.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
OF COURSE.
NOW YOU, ALONG WITH ASSEMBLY
MEMBER, MIKE GALLAGHER, PROPOSED
LEGISLATION KNOWN AS THE
RECOURSE ACT THAT WOULD
ESSENTIALLY ALLOW THE STATE TO
KEEP TAX DOLLARS IT OWES TO THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE EVENT
(02:08):
OF POTENTIAL CUTS COMING DOWN
FROM WASHINGTON.
SO CAN YOU TELL US HOW THIS
WOULD ACTUALLY WORK AND WHY IT
WAS A LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY FOR
YOU?
>> THE RECOURSE ACT COMPELS THE
STATE CONTROLLER TO TABULATE ALL
OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE
RECEIVE.
SO THAT IF AND WHEN PRESIDENT
(02:28):
TRUMP WITHHOLDS FUNDING
ILLEGALLY FROM NEW YORK STATE,
WE'RE ABLE TO WITHHOLD OUR TAXES
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN
KIND.
>> IF PASS, HOW WOULD SOMETHING
LIKE THIS AFFECT THE ONGOING
FINAL STATE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS
AND THE AGREEMENT THAT THE
LEADERS WILL COME TO?
(02:48):
>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, NEW YORK
STATE DEPENDS ON FEDERAL FUNDING
TREMENDOUSLY, FOR INFRASTRUCTURE
UPGRADES, FOR TRANSIT, FOR SOME
OF OUR EDUCATION FUNDING AND OF
COURSE, THAT BENEFITS AND OTHER
WELL-KNOWN SERVICES, BUT WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
DELIVER A CONTINUOUS SERVICE TO
(03:11):
NEW YORKERS AND DON'T WANT TO
SEE A LOT OF THESE FEDERAL CUTS
THAT HAVE BEEN THREATEN OR HAVE
ALREADY BEGUN TO REALLY IMPACT
OUR QUALITY OF LIFE HERE.
JUST LAST WEEK, DONALD TRUMP AND
HIS ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED A
$300 MILLION CUT FROM FEMA FOR
FLOOD MITIGATION FUNDING.
A THIRD OF WHICH WOULD GREATLY
(03:32):
IMPACT OUR DISTRICT, AND SO
WE'RE ASKING HIM TO REVERSE
COURSE BECAUSE, IF NOT NOW IN
THE STATE BUDGET, WE HAVE TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE SURE THE
WORK CONTINUES SO THAT WE'RE
PREPARED FOR THE NEXT BIG STORM.
>> AND FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE,
WHAT IS THE APPETITE OR LEVEL OF
SUPPORT FOR THIS MEASURE IN THE
LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW?
>> WELL, WE'VE JUST INTRODUCED
(03:53):
THE BILL AND WE'RE QUICKLY
ASKING OUR COLLEAGUES TO SIGN ON
AS COSPONSORS SO THAT WE CAN GET
IT TO THE FLOOR AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
WE'RE HOPING THAT GOVERNOR
HOCHUL TAKES NOTE AND INCLUDES
IT IN HER BUDGET BECAUSE IT
WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS TOOL IN
HER ARSENAL WHEN SHE HAS TO
NEGOTIATE WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP
AND COMMUNICATE THE NEEDS OF NEW
(04:16):
YORKERS.
WE WANT HER TO BE IN THE BEST
POSSIBLE BARGAINING POSITION AND
AGAIN, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
PROTECTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE
POPULATION.
>> AND WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL
LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT MAY ARISE
BECAUSE OF THIS BILL AND HOW ARE
YOU HOPE TO MITIGATE THOSE
CHALLENGES?
>> WELL, THERE ARE LEGAL
CHALLENGES WITH RESPECT TO MANY
(04:38):
OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS THAT
WE'VE BEEN SEEING, AND IN
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT CONGRESS VERY
OFTEN ENROLL IN THE FUND THAT
HAS ALREADY HAS BEEN ALLOCATED
JUST LIKE THIS FLOOD MITIGATION
FUNDING THAT WAS CHAMPIONED BY
GRACE MAY BECAUSE OF HOW HARD HIT
OUR SHARED DISTRICT WAS, AND SO
(04:59):
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
PREPARED FOR THE WORST CASE
SCENARIOS AND UNDERSTANDING AND
REALLY STEPPING INTO OUR POWER
AND OUR LEVERAGE AS A DONOR
STATE TO THIS COUNTRY.
SO THAT WE ARE RESPECTED AND SO
THAT THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE
(05:20):
DONE CONTINUES.
>> AND YOU ALSO SPONSOR A BILL
THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE EMPLOYERS
TO DISCLOSE INCREASED
INFORMATION TO POTENTIAL
EMPLOYEES ABOUT THEIR
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS.
SO CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT
THAT BILL AND THE SUPPORT IT
CURRENTLY HAS RIGHT NOW?
>> YEAH. AS CHAIR OF THE LABOR
COMMITTEE, I AM COMMITTED TO
(05:42):
MAKING EVERY WORKPLACE SAFE AND
EVERY WORK INTERACTION THE MOST
BENEFICIAL AND BEST FOR OUR
ECONOMY AND THAT MEANS WORKERS
SHOULD BE EMPOWER WITH AS MUCH
INFORMATION AS THEY CAN TO MAKE
THE BEST POSSIBLE EMPLOYMENT
DECISION THAT CAN LEAD TO
GREATER JOB SATISFACTION AND A
(06:04):
MUCH MORE COMMITTED WORKFORCE
FOR THE EMPLOYER.
SO I'M ASKING THAT EMPLOYERS
DISCLOSE.
WE START OUT WITH A SALARY RANGE
ON JOB POSTINGS SO THAT PEOPLE
CAN HAVE A REALISTIC PICTURE OF
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THEIR JOB
INTERVIEW AND WHAT OFFER TO
EXPECT, BUT NOW WE'RE ASKING FOR
A DISCLOSURE OF THE FULL PACKAGE
(06:24):
SO THAT WORKERS KNOW JUST HOW
WELL THEY'RE BEING COMPENSATED
FOR THE WORK THEY'RE BEING ASK
TO PERFORM.
>> AND HOW WOULD THE DEPARTMENT
OF LABOR ENSURE THAT THESE
EMPLOYERS ARE ACTUALLY COMPLYING
WITH THE LAW AND WHAT WOULD BE
THE TIMEFRAME THAT THE EMPLOYERS
WOULD HAVE TO DO THIS BY?
(06:44):
>> WELL, WE'RE STILL GETTING THE
LAW PASSED.
SO IT HASN'T BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW
QUITE YET.
WE ARE AT THE VERY EARLY STAGES
OF BEING ABLE TO PRIORITIZE THIS
BILL AND GET IT PASS IN THE
STATE LEGISLATURE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IS FULLY
(07:05):
FUND AND STAFFED IN ORDER TO DO
THE LEVEL OF WORK THAT IT SHOULD
BE DOING CONSIDERING HOW MANY
EMPLOYERS ARE EXPLOITING THEIR
WORKERS AND THE WAGE THEFT THAT
HAS TRANSPIRED AND CONTINUES TO
TRANSPIRE IN NEW YORK STATE.
SO WE ARE HOPING THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WILL BE ABLE
(07:26):
TO DO THIS WORK ALONG WITH THE
REST OF THE WORK THEY DO TO
ENSURE SAFE WORKPLACES.
>> AND NATURALLY, I WANT TO ASK
YOU ABOUT THE STATE BUDGET.
AT THE TIME THAT WE'RE FILMING
THIS, THE STATE BUDGET IS
SEVERAL WEEKS LATE.
SO AS SENATE LABOR COMMITTEE
CHAIR, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON
HOW NEGOTIATIONS ARE PROGRESSING
(07:46):
THIS YEAR?
AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LABOR
PRIORITIES THAT YOU'RE HOPING
MAKE IT INTO THE FINAL STATE
BUDGET?
>> THE NEGOTIATIONS OF THE STATE
BUDGET HAVE BEEN A LOT SLOWER
THAN ANY OF US WOULD LIKE.
THERE ARE SOME STICKING POINTS
ON POLICY THAT CAN CERTAINLY BE
FIGURED OUT OUTSIDE OF THE
BUDGET, IF YOU ASK ME.
THERE ARE VERY IMPORTANT NEEDS
(08:08):
THAT NEW YORKERS HAVE RIGHT NOW
IN THIS ERA OF AFFORDABILITY
THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED
IMMEDIATELY.
FOR EXAMPLE, TEMPORARY
DISABILITY INSURANCE REFORM IS
SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BEEN
CHAMPIONING IN ORDER TO INCREASE
THE SHORT-TERM DISABILITY
BENEFIT FOR NEW YORKERS, WHO
HAVEN'T SEEN A RAISE SINCE 1989
(08:29):
AND HAVE BEEN PAID $170 A WEEK,
WHICH CANNOT BE VERY HELPFUL
TOWARDS PAYING FOR RENT AND
GROCERIES AND THE LIKE.
WE WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR
THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK ON
THEIR FEET AND HOPEFULLY GET
BACK TO WORK.
THE OTHER PRIORITY OF MINE IS
BABY BOX.
(08:50):
IT'S AN EXCITING INITIATIVE TO
HELP SOME OF LESS AFFLUENT WOMEN
IN NEW YORK STATE, HELPING BREAK
CYCLES OF POVERTY WITH A SMALL
GUARANTEED INCOME FOR WOMEN WHO
ARE PREGNANT IN THEIR LAST THREE
MONTHS AND THE FIRST 18 MONTHS
OF A CHILD'S LIFE, WE BELIEVE
THAT BY HELPING MOTHERS, WE'RE
(09:12):
MAKING SURE WE'RE REDUCING THE
INCIDENCES OF POVERTY AMONG
CHILDREN IN NEW YORK STATE WHICH
WILL PAY BACK IN THE DIVIDENDS
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS AND
DECADES.
>> AND JUST LAST WEEK, ASSEMBLY
SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE INTRODUCED
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
ESSENTIALLY ALLOW LAWMAKERS TO
GET PAID IF THE BUDGET IS
DELAYED DUE TO POLICY INTRODUCED
(09:34):
BY THE EXECUTIVE CHAMBER.
SO I JUST WANT TO GET YOUR
THOUGHTS AROUND THIS BILL.
>> WELL, YOU'RE SPEAKING TO A
SENATOR WHO PROBABLY REPRESENTS
A WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY IN
QUEENS.
I COME FROM A WORKING CLASS
FAMILY MYSELF AND BEING ABLE TO
PAY OUR BILLS WOULD BE NICE.
WE ALL HAVE A LOT OF CONCERN
(09:57):
AROUND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE
LACK OF AFFORDABILITY IN OUR
CITY AND OUR STATE, AND THAT'S
MORE THE REASON TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE PASSING THE BUDGET ON
TIME.
SO THAT PEOPLE ARE-- PEOPLE CAN
BELIEVE THAT THEIR GOVERNMENT IS
ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEM AND WE
CAN BUILD THE TRUST THAT HAS
BEEN LOST IN OUR PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS.
(10:18):
>> AND LASTLY, LOOKING BEYOND
THE BUDGET AND TOWARD THE END OF
SESSION, WHAT WOULD MAKE FOR A
SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATIVE SESSION
FOR YOUR CONFERENCE AND ALSO FOR
LABOR?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY PASSING ALL
MY BILLS WOULD BE REALLY-- WOULD
BE REALLY HELPFUL.
ASIDE FROM THE TWO THAT I'VE
ALREADY MENTION, BABY BUCKS AND
TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE
(10:38):
REFORM AND OF COURSE, THAT
RECOURSE ACT, WE CARRY A BILL TO
DO AWAY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR MINIMUM WAGE TO QUALIFY FOR
CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES IN NEW YORK
STATE.
IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT YOU
HAVE TO MAKE AT LEAST MINIMUM
WAGE IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR
CHILD CARE AND THAT DOESN'T HELP
(10:58):
THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLE TO GET
BY, WHO ARE WAITING FOR THAT JOB
INTERVIEW AND THAT OPPORTUNITY
TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR
FAMILIES.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A
SAFE PLACE FOR CHILDREN NO
MATTER THE SITUATION AT ALL
TIMES.
I'M ALSO PUSHING FOR A
SEARCHABLE DATABASE FOR
VETERAN-OWN BUSINESSES IN ORDER
(11:20):
TO HELP SO MANY WHO ARE
RETURNING FROM SERVICE BE ABLE
TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET AND
REALLY MAKE INVESTMENTS THAT OUR
ECONOMY SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO
HAVE AN EASIER TIME CONTRACTING
WITH THE STATE OF NEW YORK FOR
OPPORTUNITIES.
I CAN BE HERE FOREVER TALKING
ABOUT WAGE THEFT AND ALL OF THE
THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO IN
(11:41):
ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY
WORKER IN NEW YORK STATE IS
GOING HOME WITH THEIR FULL DAY'S
PAY.
THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF
EMPLOYERS NOT PAYING OVERTIME,
ASKING PEOPLE TO PERFORM WORK
WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T.
LOTS OF CHECKS THAT ARE
BOUNCING, AND UNFORTUNATELY,
(12:01):
THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO
THE WORKER THAT STILL NEEDS TO
THEIR BILLS.
SO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
KEEPING IN MIND THAT NEW YORKER
WHO WANTS TO STAY IN NEW YORK,
WHO HAS BEEN GRINDING EVERY DAY,
THAT SHOULD BE THE NORTH STAR IN
OUR STATE BUDGET PROCESS THIS
YEAR.
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S
ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY,
(12:22):
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING
THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY,
SENATOR.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
STATE SENATOR JESSICA RAMOS,
CHAIR OF THE SENATE LABOR
COMMITTEE.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
NOW TURN TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT
TOPIC.
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS
BEEN TASK WITH MOVING NEW
(12:44):
YORKERS ENROLL IN THE
CONSUMER-DIRECT PERSONAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO ONE FISCAL
MIDDLE MAN, PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS,
LLC.
SINCE THEN, THE TRANSITION HAS
BEEN FAR FROM SMOOTH.
WE SAT DOWN WITH STATE SENATE
HEALTH COMMITTEE CHAIR, GUSTAVO
RIVERA, TO DISCUSS THE
CHALLENGES WITH THAT TRANSITION.
(13:05):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US, SENATOR.
>> A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU.
SO WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT.
WE'LL JUMP RIGHT NO.
START BY TELLING ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT THE CONSUMER-DIRECT
PERSONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS
AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO NEW
YORKERS?
>> SO THE CONSUMER-DIRECT
PERSONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR
CDPAP, AS IT'S KNOWN, IS A
(13:26):
PROGRAM THAT THEY START, I
BELIEVE, BACK IN 1995.
THE GOAL HERE IS-- IT'S A
MEDICAID-FUND PROGRAM, AND THE
GOAL HERE IS TO MAKE SURE IF YOU
ARE A PERSON WHO IS DISABLED,
ELDERLY BUT STILL ARE SOMEWHAT
PHYSICALLY LIMITED BUT STILL
HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE
THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY CHOOSE THE
PERSON WHO IS YOUR PERSONAL
ASSISTANT.
SOMEONE THAT HELPS YOU, YOU
KNOW, GET OUT OF BED IN THE
(13:47):
MORNING, FEED YOURSELF, YOU
KNOW, GET DRESS, ET CETERA.
ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT YOU DO,
ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING AND
IT IS FUND BY MEDICAID AND YOU
CAN ACTUALLY CHOOSE A FAMILY
MEMBER.
SO YOU CAN HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS
YOUR NIECE OR YOUR BROTHER OR
WHATEVER.
THERE'S ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
THAT IS WHAT THE PROGRAM IS.
>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE
(14:07):
TRANSITION SO FAR?
YOU KNOW, WHY HAVE YOU SPOKEN
OUT AGAINST THIS TRANSITION?
>> WELL THIS IS A FAMILY SHOW,
SO I WOULD SAY IT IS A POOP SHOW
FROM THE BEGINNING.
I REMEMBER LAST YEAR WHEN WE--
WHEN THE GOVERNOR INSIST THAT
THIS BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL
BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS, AND IT WAS
INCLUDED IN THE FINAL BUDGET
(14:28):
THAT WE VOTED ON AND I REMEMBER
DEBATING IT ON THE FLOOR OF THE
SENATE TELLING MY REPUBLICAN AND
DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES THAT YES,
I WAS VOTING FOR IT, BECAUSE IT
WAS INCLUDED AS PART OF THE
BUDGET PACKAGE, IF YOU WILL, BUT
THAT I DIDN'T AGREE WITH IT.
I DIDN'T AGREE WITH IT THEN.
I DID NOT THINK IT WAS A GOOD
IDEA.
TAKE TWO STEPS BACK.
THE ISSUE IS-- AND IT'S TRUE--
THAT THE WAY THE PROGRAM IS
(14:48):
STRUCTURE FROM THE BEGINNING
MADE IT SO CERTAIN FOLKS MIGHT
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
THE WAY THAT IT WORKS IS THAT IF
YOU ARE-- LET'S SAY, I AM A
CONSUMER AND I HAVE A PERSONAL
ASSISTANT.
LET'S SAY YOU'RE MY PERSONAL
ASSISTANT.
THERE'S AN ENTITY CALL THE
FISCAL INTERMEDIARY, RFI, THAT
ACTUALLY PAYS YOU.
I'M NOT GO TO PAY YOU FROM MY
POCKET.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
(15:09):
HUMAN RESOURCES, ET CETERA.
SO THIS FI, FISCAL INTERMEDIARY
ACTUALLY TAKES CARE OF THE
PAPERWORK AND THE MONEY FLOWS
THROUGH THEM TO PAY YOU.
SO THE ISSUE IS THAT THERE WERE
SOME COMPANY, THAT IS TRUE, THAT
TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE WAY THE
SYSTEM WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN.
THEY ESTABLISH A BUNCH OF FIS
THAT DIDN'T PARTICULARLY CARE
ABOUT YOU AS A WORKER OR ME AS A
(15:30):
CONSUMER.
IT IS TRUE THAT WE HAD TO
ACTUALLY CHANGE THAT.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN PRO THE STATUS
QUO ON THIS ISSUE.
THE PROBLEM IS IS THAT WHAT THE
GOVERNOR DID WAS FORCE US TO
ACCEPT GOING FROM WHAT OUR
COUPLE HUNDRED FISCAL
INTERMEDIARIES AROUND THE STATE
TO ONE SINGLE FI.
(15:50):
AND TO DO IT IN A VERY SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME, IN JUST A FEW
MONTHS' TIME WITH A PROGRAM THAT
IS MANY, MANY TIMES LARGER THAN
THE LARGEST ONE ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
SO IT IS-- IT WAS JUST
BONE-HEADED.
IT WAS-- IT WAS TERRIBLY MANAGED
AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE SEEING
TO THIS DAY ALL OF THE-- ALL OF
(16:10):
THE WAYS IN THIS WHICH THIS
INCREDIBLY MISMANAGED AND
MISHANDLED PROCESS HAS MEANT
THAT SOME WORKERS ARE LEAVING,
SOME WORKERS ARE LEAVING THEIR
CONSUMERS BECAUSE THEY DON'T
KNOW IF THEY'RE EVER GO TO GET
PAID.
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE
THE TRANSITION EVEN THOUGH IN
GOOD FAITH THEY'VE TRIED TO DO
SO.
>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF SOME OF
THE ROAD BLOCKS THAT HAVE TRIED
(16:30):
TO, YOU KNOW, DELAY OR STOP THIS
TRANSITION?
MOST RECENTLY THERE WAS A
RESTRAINING ORDER ISSUE TO
PREVENT THE STATE FROM FORCING
OUT HOME CARE AGENCIES THAT ACT
AS MIDDLE MEN.
I'M WONDERING, WHAT KIND OF
IMPACT DO YOU THINK ROAD BLOCKS
LIKE THIS HAVE HAD ON THIS
TRANSITION?
>> FORTUNATELY NOT ENOUGH.
WHEN WE'RE TALK ABOUT ROAD
BLOCKS-- THIS IS THE THING.
(16:51):
NONE OF US BELIEVE THAT THIS
TRANSITION WAS DONE RIGHT OR
THAT IT WAS THE RIGHT TRANSITION
TO MAKE.
THERE WAS A BILL THAT I
INTRODUCED LAST YEAR.
NOW WE VOTED ON THE BUDGET LAST
YEAR IN THE END OF MARCH,
BEGINNING OF APRIL, AND SINCE--
AND THEN AFTER THAT IMMEDIATELY,
I START WORK AND THIS WAS PART
OF THE BUDGET DEAL AS I SAID
EARLIER.
IMMEDIATELY I START WORK WITH
(17:12):
COLLEAGUES AS WELL AS
STAKEHOLDERS TO PUT A BILL
TOGETHER TO CREATE WHAT I
THOUGHT WAS A REASONABLE
ALTERNATIVE TO THE GOVERNOR'S
INSIST CHANGE.
I INTRODUCED THAT BILL IN THE
MIDDLE OF LAST YEAR AND THE
REASON I DIDN'T INTRODUCE IT
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BUDGET WAS
BECAUSE IT TOOK A COUPLE OF
MONTHS TO COOK IT RIGHT.
IT TOOK A COUPLE OF MONDAYS TO
WORK OUT ALL THE KINKS.
WE INTRODUCED WHAT I THINK STILL
(17:35):
IS A REASONABLE ALTERNATIVE TO
WHAT WAS FORCED BY THE GOVERNOR.
BUT THAT BILL WAS NOT CONSIDER
AND THEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF
THE YEAR WHEN THE TRANSITION
OFFICIALLY BEGAN, MANY OF US
HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY TALKING
ABOUT THIS.
WE HAVE BEEN ENDLESSLY
TALKING ABOUT IT.
I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT PUBLICLY
AND PRIVATELY OVER AND OVER
AGAIN TO THE POINT THAT DURING
(17:55):
THE BUDGET HEARINGS A FEW MONTHS
AGO, SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO THE
MEDICAID DIRECTOR AS WELL AS THE
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH FOR THE
STATE OF NEW YORK, I JUST ASK
THEM DIRECTLY, DO YOU HAVE A
PLAN B IF THIS DOESN'T ACTUALLY
WORK, AND THE RESPONSE WAS JUST,
WELL, YOU JUST GOT TO-- PEOPLE
JUST GOT TO START DOING THE
PROCESS.
I SAID, I GET THAT.
WHAT IF PEOPLE ACTUALLY START
(18:15):
THE PROCESS AND GOOD FAITH TRIED
TO GO THROUGH IT.
OH, THERE'S PEOPLE PLANTING
MISINFORMATION.
SO WE WERE CONSTANTLY-- THE ROAD
BLOCKS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
AND I WILL BE HONEST, WERE
PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF.
OF COURSE I WANT TO ROAD BLOCK
THIS.
AND I WANT TO BECAUSE I HAD BEEN
CONSISTENTLY TALK ABOUT THE FACT
THAT THIS NEEDED TO BE DELAYED.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WHEN IT
(18:36):
BECAME CLEAR TO ME THAT THESE
FOLKS WERE JUST HEAD TOWARDS THE
CLIFF.
THEY WERE DRIVING A BUS.
THE GOVERNOR, HERSELF, WAS
DRIVING A BUS TOWARDS A CLIFF
WITHOUT CARING ABOUT WHAT WAS GO
TO HAPPEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE CLIFF, I STOPPED TALKING
ABOUT MY BILL AS A REASONABLE
ALTERNATIVE, AND I START TALKING
ABOUT A DELAY.
I THOUGHT IF YOU WERE INSISTENT
ON THIS ONE FI BUSINESS WHICH I
(18:56):
THOUGHT WAS A BAD IDEA THEN AND
I THINK IS A BAD IDEA NOW, AT
THE VERY LEAST YOU COULD DELAY
THE PROCESS SO THE PEOPLE WHO IN
GOOD FAITH WANT TO MAKE THE
TRANSITION AND MAKE SURE THEY
CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SERVICES AND
CONTINUE AS WORKERS TO BE ABLE
TO GET PAID FOR THEIR WORK, THAT
IT DIDN'T FALL OFF A CLIFF, BUT
WE WERE-- IT FELL ON DEAF EARS,
(19:18):
AND THE GOVERNOR AND THE
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH PROCEEDED
TO DRIVE THAT BUS OFF A CLIFF
AND THE BUS IS CAREENING DOWN
THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN AS WE
SPEAK.
>> AND WHAT DID YOU MAKE-- YOU
TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE DELAY.
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH GAVE IT
A, QUOTE, GRACE PERIOD.
>> NOT A DELAY.
IT WASN'T A DELAY.
THEY CALL IT A GRACE PERIOD, BUT
SEE, THIS IS THE PROBLEM.
THEY SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT-- BY
(19:38):
THE WAY, WHEN THEY DID THAT A
COUPLE OF DAY BEFORE THE APRIL
1ST DEADLINE, IT WAS AN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THEY
COULDN'T GET IT RIGHT.
THAT WAS THE FIRST THING.
INSTEAD OF TRY TO GET IT RIGHT
AND DOING WHAT WE ALL HAD ASK
THEM WHICH WAS JUST TO DO A
DELAY WHICH THE GOVERNOR COULD
DO BY AN ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION,
INSTEAD, WHAT THEY DID-- THEY
SAID WE HAVE A GRACE PERIOD.
(20:00):
THERE WAS A LAWSUIT THAT WAS
BROUGHT AND THEN JUDGE-- THEY
ISSUE A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING
ORDER AND THE ADMINISTRATION
INTERPRET IT BY SAYING IF YOU--
LET'S GO BACK TO THIS, RIGHT.
I'M THE CONSUMER.
YOU ARE THE PERSONAL ASSISTANT.
IT WAS INTERPRET, THE TEMPORARY
RESTRAINING ORDER ON ITS FACE
WOULD SAY, HEY, STATE, AFTER
(20:22):
APRIL 1ST, THE STATUTE SAYS THAT
ONLY PPL, WHICH IS THIS
COMPANY-- WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALK
ABOUT THIS TERRIBLE COMPANY, BUT
OKAY.
PPL, WHICH IS THE SINGLE FISCAL
INTERMEDIARY WHICH HAS BEEN
ALLOW TO WORK, THEY'RE THE ONLY
ONES THAT CAN PAY ANY WORKER
AFTER APRIL 1ST.
A DELAY WOULD BE TO SAY, COULD
(20:43):
WE MAKE SURE THAT UNTIL PEOPLE
MAKE THE ACTUAL TRANSITION TO
PPL AS WORKERS AND AS CONSUMERS
THAT WHATEVER FISCAL
INTERMEDIARY IS STILL PROVIDING
FOR THEIR PAPERWORK, MAINTAINING
TIME, ET CETERA, COULD WE MAKE
SURE THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO
DO THAT LEGALLY?
WELL, THEY DIDN'T ISSUE A DELAY.
SO THAT HAPPEN ON APRIL 1ST.
(21:04):
AND THEN THAT MEANT THAT THE
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
WHICH WAS ISSUE BY THE JUDGE ON
ITS FACE WOULD SAY, WELL, YOU
CAN HAVE THAT FISCAL
INTERMEDIARY, THAT THIRD ONE,
NOT PPL, THE OTHER ONE, WHATEVER
IT IS, ABC HEALTH, RIGHT, ABC
HOME CARE, ABC HOME CARE IS YOUR
COMPANY, THE FISCAL
INTERMEDIARY, BUT NOW IT'S APRIL
(21:25):
2ND.
BECAUSE OF THE TEMPORARY
RESTRAINING ORDER ON ITS FACE,
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE
WHILE YOU'RE DOING THE PAPERWORK
TO GET TRANSFERRED OVER TO PPL
TO BE PAID BY THIS ONE.
HOWEVER, THE STATE SAID, IF YOU
HAD ANY CONTACT WITH PPL, YOU
ARE DEEP TO BE COMPLETE.
YOU ARE DEEM, AS A WORKER, AND
ME, AS A CONSUMER TO HAVE
(21:45):
ALREADY MADE THE TRANSITION.
THEREFORE LEGALLY, ABC HOME CARE
CAN'T KEEP YOUR TIME, CAN'T
ISSUE PAYMENTS, CAN'T DO
ANYTHING.
EVEN THOUGH THE TEMPORARY
RESTRAINING ORDER ON ITS FACE
SAYS THAT SHOULD BE THE CASE.
SO THE STATE COMPLETELY BUNGLED
THAT UP, TOO.
THEY DIDN'T EVEN ISSUE AN ACTUAL
DELAY.
THEY CALL IT-- THEY CALL IT A
WHATEVER THEY CALL IT, A GRACE
(22:08):
PERIOD, BUT IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY
SOLVE ANYTHING BECAUSE THIS IS--
I MEAN, ANOTHER PIECE IS THAT
THE TRANSITION, THE INTERACTIONS
WITH PPL WERE A COMPLETE MESS.
THE WEBSITE DIDN'T WORK.
THEY COULDN'T GET ANYBODY ON THE
PHONE.
THE OFFICES PHYSICALLY WEREN'T,
DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY IN THEM AND
THIS IS WHILE THE COMMISSIONER
(22:28):
OF HEALTH LIED, AND I WILL SAY
THAT VERY CLEARLY.
THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH LIED
ABOUT WHAT WAS AVAILABLE TO
PEOPLE WHO ARE TRY TO MAKE
TRANSITION.
SAID GO TO THE OFFICES.
OFFICES DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY TO
STAFF THEM.
CALL THE NUMBER.
PEOPLE NEVER GOT A CALL BACK.
CALL-- THEY SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE.
PEOPLE COULD NEVER GET HE
SOMEBODY WHO SPOKE THEIR ACTUAL
(22:49):
LANGUAGE.
ACCESS THE WEBSITE, AND THE
WEBSITE SAYS ERROR, ERROR, ERROR
EVERY TIME YOU TRY TO ACCESS IT.
ONE TIME AFTER ANOTHER.
SO THIS IS WHAT HAPPEN TO PEOPLE
WHO, AGAIN, IN GOOD FAITH WERE
TRY TO MAKE THE TRANSITION.
WHAT THE GOVERNOR SEEMS TO SAY
IS THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE
WHO ARE BAD ACTORS WHO HAVE
SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TRYING
(23:10):
TO MISINFORM THE PUBLIC AND
WORKERS AND CONSUMERS.
THOSE PEOPLE DO EXIST.
THOSE PEOPLE, THOSE BAD ACTORS
WHO HAVE BEEN BENEFITING FROM
THE CURRENT SYSTEM, THAT DOES
EXIST.
BUT I DON'T CARE ABOUT THOSE
PEOPLE.
I CARE ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO COME
TO THIS OFFICE AND WHO CALL THIS
OFFICE AND WHO CALL MY OFFICE IN
(23:31):
THE BRONX TELLING ME ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES THAT THEY'VE HAD TO
ACTUALLY MAKE THE TRANSITION
WORK FOR THEM AND THEIR
CONSUMERS.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT I CARE
ABOUT, AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE
THAT APPARENTLY THIS
ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT CARE
ABOUT BECAUSE THEY STOPPED
LISTENING TO THEM MONTHS AGO.
>> THE HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS
FOR WORKERS AND PATIENTS ON THE
(23:55):
NEW SINGULAR FISCAL INTERMEDIARY
PARTNERSHIPS, LLC, IS EITHER
LIMITED, SO THERE WAS A REPORT
RECENTLY BY THE FISCAL POLICY
INSTITUTE THAT HAD SAID THAT THE
OPTIONS DON'T COVER BASIC
SERVICES AND HOW IT'S, YOU KNOW,
GO TO ESSENTIALLY LEAVE SOME
WORKERS POTENTIALLY WITHOUT
INSURANCE.
WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE
(24:15):
FINDINGS FROM THIS REPORT, AND
WHAT'S HAPPEN WITH THESE
OPTIONS?
>>THE FINDINGS OF THE REPORT
WERE JUST DESCRIBING THE REALITY
OF THE SITUATION.
THIS IS NOT AN INVESTIGATION AS
MUCH AS IT WAS JUST LIKE, HEY,
SO WHAT'S THAT HEALTH COVERAGE
THAT YOU AS A WORKER WOULD HAVE
ACCESS TO?
THE SAME WAY THAT YOU OR I OR
WHATEVER INSURANCE THAT WE HAVE
AND ULTIMATELY WE WILL HAVE THE
NEW YORK HEALTH ACT, WHICH MEAN
WE WON'T NEED THE INSURANCE
(24:36):
PRODUCT, BUT REGARDLESS.
RIGHT NOW, IF YOU HAVE AN
INSURANCE PRODUCT, WHATEVER IT
IS, YOU CAN GET INFORMATION
ABOUT, OKAY, SO WHAT DOES IT
ACTUALLY COVER, RIGHT.
YOU CAN GET THAT INFORMATION
FROM THE HEALTH INSURANCE
COMPANY.
SO THAT'S WHAT THIS
INVESTIGATION DID.
IT JUST ASK, SHOW ME, SHOW ME
WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE, AND WHEN
YOU SEE THE THINGS THAT ARE
(24:58):
COVER, BASICALLY THERE'S ONE OR
TWO THINGS THAT ARE COVER.
THE POINT IS YOU HAD ONE THING
AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER
AFTER ANOTHER THAT WERE NOT
COVER.
THINGS THAT WOULD BE IN A BASIC
HEALTH PLAN SHOULD BE AVAILABLE
TO YOU, SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO
YOU AND THEY'RE NOT.
AND THIS IS FOR THE WORKERS WHO
HAVE BEEN FORCE TO TAKE THIS
PLAN ON, WHO MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE
(25:19):
A BETTER PLAN AVAILABLE TO THEM
IF THEY HADN'T ACTUALLY MADE THE
RAN SESSION OVER TO PPL.
IT'S A MESS OF THE ENTIRE THING
FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
TAKING TIME TO SPEAK WITH US,
SENATOR.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
SITING DOWN AND CHATTING WITH
US.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN, AND I'M
SORRY FOR THE SOLILOQUIES.
>> WE'RE SPEAKING WITH STATE
SENATOR GUSTAVO RIVERA.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(25:41):
>> WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING AND SEE YOU
NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:35):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.
(00:23):
GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL AND
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HAVE MADE
MAJOR PROGRESS ON THE STATE
BUDGET THIS WEEK.
AS WE DISCUSS BEFORE,
NEGOTIATIONS WERE STALL OVER
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE STATE'S
DISCOVERY LAWS.
THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO CHANGE HOW
AND WHEN PROSECUTORS MUST TURN
OVER EVIDENCE IN COURT CASES,
(00:43):
BUT THE LEGISLATURE ARGUED THERE
WERE OTHER WAYS TO ADDRESS
ISSUES WITHOUT WEAKENING THE
SYSTEM.
ON TUESDAY, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
CARL HEASTIE TOLD REPORTERS THAT
THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE WAS NOW
SETTLED.
>> I SPENT THE LAST FOUR OUT OF
FIVE DAYS MYSELF AND MY COUNCIL
AND OUR CODES TEAM ACTUALLY
(01:06):
SITING WITH THE FIVE D.A.’S IN
THE CITY.
OF COURSE, MIKE MCMAHON IS THE
PRESIDENT OF THE D.A.'S
ASSOCIATION, AND I BELIEVE WE
WORK THROUGH AND WE HAVE A
FRAMEWORK ON HAVING THE
DISCOVERY ISSUE RESOLVED.
>> THIS DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTS A
MAJOR PUSH FORWARD IN
NEGOTIATIONS AND WE'LL CONTINUE
TO BRING YOU UPDATES ON THE
(01:26):
BUDGET RIGHT HERE ON THIS SHOW.
TURNING NOW TO OUR ONE-ON-ONE
INTERVIEW WITH STATE SENATOR
JESSICA RAMOS.
WE SPOKE WITH THE SENATOR ABOUT
THE STATE BUDGET PROGRESS AS
WELL AS A BILL THAT SHE'S
PUSHING THAT WOULD STOP THE
STATE FROM PAYING FEDERAL TAXES
IN THE EVENT OF CUTS COMING FROM
WASHINGTON.
HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.
(01:47):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
ME HERE TODAY, SENATOR.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
OF COURSE.
NOW YOU, ALONG WITH ASSEMBLY
MEMBER, MIKE GALLAGHER, PROPOSED
LEGISLATION KNOWN AS THE
RECOURSE ACT THAT WOULD
ESSENTIALLY ALLOW THE STATE TO
KEEP TAX DOLLARS IT OWES TO THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE EVENT
(02:08):
OF POTENTIAL CUTS COMING DOWN
FROM WASHINGTON.
SO CAN YOU TELL US HOW THIS
WOULD ACTUALLY WORK AND WHY IT
WAS A LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY FOR
YOU?
>> THE RECOURSE ACT COMPELS THE
STATE CONTROLLER TO TABULATE ALL
OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE
RECEIVE.
SO THAT IF AND WHEN PRESIDENT
(02:28):
TRUMP WITHHOLDS FUNDING
ILLEGALLY FROM NEW YORK STATE,
WE'RE ABLE TO WITHHOLD OUR TAXES
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN
KIND.
>> IF PASS, HOW WOULD SOMETHING
LIKE THIS AFFECT THE ONGOING
FINAL STATE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS
AND THE AGREEMENT THAT THE
LEADERS WILL COME TO?
(02:48):
>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, NEW YORK
STATE DEPENDS ON FEDERAL FUNDING
TREMENDOUSLY, FOR INFRASTRUCTURE
UPGRADES, FOR TRANSIT, FOR SOME
OF OUR EDUCATION FUNDING AND OF
COURSE, THAT BENEFITS AND OTHER
WELL-KNOWN SERVICES, BUT WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
DELIVER A CONTINUOUS SERVICE TO
(03:11):
NEW YORKERS AND DON'T WANT TO
SEE A LOT OF THESE FEDERAL CUTS
THAT HAVE BEEN THREATEN OR HAVE
ALREADY BEGUN TO REALLY IMPACT
OUR QUALITY OF LIFE HERE.
JUST LAST WEEK, DONALD TRUMP AND
HIS ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED A
$300 MILLION CUT FROM FEMA FOR
FLOOD MITIGATION FUNDING.
A THIRD OF WHICH WOULD GREATLY
(03:32):
IMPACT OUR DISTRICT, AND SO
WE'RE ASKING HIM TO REVERSE
COURSE BECAUSE, IF NOT NOW IN
THE STATE BUDGET, WE HAVE TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE SURE THE
WORK CONTINUES SO THAT WE'RE
PREPARED FOR THE NEXT BIG STORM.
>> AND FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE,
WHAT IS THE APPETITE OR LEVEL OF
SUPPORT FOR THIS MEASURE IN THE
LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW?
>> WELL, WE'VE JUST INTRODUCED
(03:53):
THE BILL AND WE'RE QUICKLY
ASKING OUR COLLEAGUES TO SIGN ON
AS COSPONSORS SO THAT WE CAN GET
IT TO THE FLOOR AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
WE'RE HOPING THAT GOVERNOR
HOCHUL TAKES NOTE AND INCLUDES
IT IN HER BUDGET BECAUSE IT
WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS TOOL IN
HER ARSENAL WHEN SHE HAS TO
NEGOTIATE WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP
AND COMMUNICATE THE NEEDS OF NEW
(04:16):
YORKERS.
WE WANT HER TO BE IN THE BEST
POSSIBLE BARGAINING POSITION AND
AGAIN, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
PROTECTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE
POPULATION.
>> AND WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL
LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT MAY ARISE
BECAUSE OF THIS BILL AND HOW ARE
YOU HOPE TO MITIGATE THOSE
CHALLENGES?
>> WELL, THERE ARE LEGAL
CHALLENGES WITH RESPECT TO MANY
(04:38):
OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS THAT
WE'VE BEEN SEEING, AND IN
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT CONGRESS VERY
OFTEN ENROLL IN THE FUND THAT
HAS ALREADY HAS BEEN ALLOCATED
JUST LIKE THIS FLOOD MITIGATION
FUNDING THAT WAS CHAMPIONED BY
GRACE MAY BECAUSE OF HOW HARD HIT
OUR SHARED DISTRICT WAS, AND SO
(04:59):
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
PREPARED FOR THE WORST CASE
SCENARIOS AND UNDERSTANDING AND
REALLY STEPPING INTO OUR POWER
AND OUR LEVERAGE AS A DONOR
STATE TO THIS COUNTRY.
SO THAT WE ARE RESPECTED AND SO
THAT THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE
(05:20):
DONE CONTINUES.
>> AND YOU ALSO SPONSOR A BILL
THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE EMPLOYERS
TO DISCLOSE INCREASED
INFORMATION TO POTENTIAL
EMPLOYEES ABOUT THEIR
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS.
SO CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT
THAT BILL AND THE SUPPORT IT
CURRENTLY HAS RIGHT NOW?
>> YEAH. AS CHAIR OF THE LABOR
COMMITTEE, I AM COMMITTED TO
(05:42):
MAKING EVERY WORKPLACE SAFE AND
EVERY WORK INTERACTION THE MOST
BENEFICIAL AND BEST FOR OUR
ECONOMY AND THAT MEANS WORKERS
SHOULD BE EMPOWER WITH AS MUCH
INFORMATION AS THEY CAN TO MAKE
THE BEST POSSIBLE EMPLOYMENT
DECISION THAT CAN LEAD TO
GREATER JOB SATISFACTION AND A
(06:04):
MUCH MORE COMMITTED WORKFORCE
FOR THE EMPLOYER.
SO I'M ASKING THAT EMPLOYERS
DISCLOSE.
WE START OUT WITH A SALARY RANGE
ON JOB POSTINGS SO THAT PEOPLE
CAN HAVE A REALISTIC PICTURE OF
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THEIR JOB
INTERVIEW AND WHAT OFFER TO
EXPECT, BUT NOW WE'RE ASKING FOR
A DISCLOSURE OF THE FULL PACKAGE
(06:24):
SO THAT WORKERS KNOW JUST HOW
WELL THEY'RE BEING COMPENSATED
FOR THE WORK THEY'RE BEING ASK
TO PERFORM.
>> AND HOW WOULD THE DEPARTMENT
OF LABOR ENSURE THAT THESE
EMPLOYERS ARE ACTUALLY COMPLYING
WITH THE LAW AND WHAT WOULD BE
THE TIMEFRAME THAT THE EMPLOYERS
WOULD HAVE TO DO THIS BY?
(06:44):
>> WELL, WE'RE STILL GETTING THE
LAW PASSED.
SO IT HASN'T BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW
QUITE YET.
WE ARE AT THE VERY EARLY STAGES
OF BEING ABLE TO PRIORITIZE THIS
BILL AND GET IT PASS IN THE
STATE LEGISLATURE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IS FULLY
(07:05):
FUND AND STAFFED IN ORDER TO DO
THE LEVEL OF WORK THAT IT SHOULD
BE DOING CONSIDERING HOW MANY
EMPLOYERS ARE EXPLOITING THEIR
WORKERS AND THE WAGE THEFT THAT
HAS TRANSPIRED AND CONTINUES TO
TRANSPIRE IN NEW YORK STATE.
SO WE ARE HOPING THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WILL BE ABLE
(07:26):
TO DO THIS WORK ALONG WITH THE
REST OF THE WORK THEY DO TO
ENSURE SAFE WORKPLACES.
>> AND NATURALLY, I WANT TO ASK
YOU ABOUT THE STATE BUDGET.
AT THE TIME THAT WE'RE FILMING
THIS, THE STATE BUDGET IS
SEVERAL WEEKS LATE.
SO AS SENATE LABOR COMMITTEE
CHAIR, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON
HOW NEGOTIATIONS ARE PROGRESSING
(07:46):
THIS YEAR?
AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LABOR
PRIORITIES THAT YOU'RE HOPING
MAKE IT INTO THE FINAL STATE
BUDGET?
>> THE NEGOTIATIONS OF THE STATE
BUDGET HAVE BEEN A LOT SLOWER
THAN ANY OF US WOULD LIKE.
THERE ARE SOME STICKING POINTS
ON POLICY THAT CAN CERTAINLY BE
FIGURED OUT OUTSIDE OF THE
BUDGET, IF YOU ASK ME.
THERE ARE VERY IMPORTANT NEEDS
(08:08):
THAT NEW YORKERS HAVE RIGHT NOW
IN THIS ERA OF AFFORDABILITY
THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED
IMMEDIATELY.
FOR EXAMPLE, TEMPORARY
DISABILITY INSURANCE REFORM IS
SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BEEN
CHAMPIONING IN ORDER TO INCREASE
THE SHORT-TERM DISABILITY
BENEFIT FOR NEW YORKERS, WHO
HAVEN'T SEEN A RAISE SINCE 1989
(08:29):
AND HAVE BEEN PAID $170 A WEEK,
WHICH CANNOT BE VERY HELPFUL
TOWARDS PAYING FOR RENT AND
GROCERIES AND THE LIKE.
WE WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR
THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK ON
THEIR FEET AND HOPEFULLY GET
BACK TO WORK.
THE OTHER PRIORITY OF MINE IS
BABY BOX.
(08:50):
IT'S AN EXCITING INITIATIVE TO
HELP SOME OF LESS AFFLUENT WOMEN
IN NEW YORK STATE, HELPING BREAK
CYCLES OF POVERTY WITH A SMALL
GUARANTEED INCOME FOR WOMEN WHO
ARE PREGNANT IN THEIR LAST THREE
MONTHS AND THE FIRST 18 MONTHS
OF A CHILD'S LIFE, WE BELIEVE
THAT BY HELPING MOTHERS, WE'RE
(09:12):
MAKING SURE WE'RE REDUCING THE
INCIDENCES OF POVERTY AMONG
CHILDREN IN NEW YORK STATE WHICH
WILL PAY BACK IN THE DIVIDENDS
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS AND
DECADES.
>> AND JUST LAST WEEK, ASSEMBLY
SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE INTRODUCED
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
ESSENTIALLY ALLOW LAWMAKERS TO
GET PAID IF THE BUDGET IS
DELAYED DUE TO POLICY INTRODUCED
(09:34):
BY THE EXECUTIVE CHAMBER.
SO I JUST WANT TO GET YOUR
THOUGHTS AROUND THIS BILL.
>> WELL, YOU'RE SPEAKING TO A
SENATOR WHO PROBABLY REPRESENTS
A WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY IN
QUEENS.
I COME FROM A WORKING CLASS
FAMILY MYSELF AND BEING ABLE TO
PAY OUR BILLS WOULD BE NICE.
WE ALL HAVE A LOT OF CONCERN
(09:57):
AROUND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE
LACK OF AFFORDABILITY IN OUR
CITY AND OUR STATE, AND THAT'S
MORE THE REASON TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE PASSING THE BUDGET ON
TIME.
SO THAT PEOPLE ARE-- PEOPLE CAN
BELIEVE THAT THEIR GOVERNMENT IS
ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEM AND WE
CAN BUILD THE TRUST THAT HAS
BEEN LOST IN OUR PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS.
(10:18):
>> AND LASTLY, LOOKING BEYOND
THE BUDGET AND TOWARD THE END OF
SESSION, WHAT WOULD MAKE FOR A
SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATIVE SESSION
FOR YOUR CONFERENCE AND ALSO FOR
LABOR?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY PASSING ALL
MY BILLS WOULD BE REALLY-- WOULD
BE REALLY HELPFUL.
ASIDE FROM THE TWO THAT I'VE
ALREADY MENTION, BABY BUCKS AND
TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE
(10:38):
REFORM AND OF COURSE, THAT
RECOURSE ACT, WE CARRY A BILL TO
DO AWAY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR MINIMUM WAGE TO QUALIFY FOR
CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES IN NEW YORK
STATE.
IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT YOU
HAVE TO MAKE AT LEAST MINIMUM
WAGE IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR
CHILD CARE AND THAT DOESN'T HELP
(10:58):
THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLE TO GET
BY, WHO ARE WAITING FOR THAT JOB
INTERVIEW AND THAT OPPORTUNITY
TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR
FAMILIES.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A
SAFE PLACE FOR CHILDREN NO
MATTER THE SITUATION AT ALL
TIMES.
I'M ALSO PUSHING FOR A
SEARCHABLE DATABASE FOR
VETERAN-OWN BUSINESSES IN ORDER
(11:20):
TO HELP SO MANY WHO ARE
RETURNING FROM SERVICE BE ABLE
TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET AND
REALLY MAKE INVESTMENTS THAT OUR
ECONOMY SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO
HAVE AN EASIER TIME CONTRACTING
WITH THE STATE OF NEW YORK FOR
OPPORTUNITIES.
I CAN BE HERE FOREVER TALKING
ABOUT WAGE THEFT AND ALL OF THE
THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO IN
(11:41):
ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY
WORKER IN NEW YORK STATE IS
GOING HOME WITH THEIR FULL DAY'S
PAY.
THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF
EMPLOYERS NOT PAYING OVERTIME,
ASKING PEOPLE TO PERFORM WORK
WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T.
LOTS OF CHECKS THAT ARE
BOUNCING, AND UNFORTUNATELY,
(12:01):
THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO
THE WORKER THAT STILL NEEDS TO
THEIR BILLS.
SO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
KEEPING IN MIND THAT NEW YORKER
WHO WANTS TO STAY IN NEW YORK,
WHO HAS BEEN GRINDING EVERY DAY,
THAT SHOULD BE THE NORTH STAR IN
OUR STATE BUDGET PROCESS THIS
YEAR.
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S
ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY,
(12:22):
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING
THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY,
SENATOR.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> AND WE WERE SPEAKING WITH
STATE SENATOR JESSICA RAMOS,
CHAIR OF THE SENATE LABOR
COMMITTEE.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
NOW TURN TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT
TOPIC.
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS
BEEN TASK WITH MOVING NEW
(12:44):
YORKERS ENROLL IN THE
CONSUMER-DIRECT PERSONAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO ONE FISCAL
MIDDLE MAN, PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS,
LLC.
SINCE THEN, THE TRANSITION HAS
BEEN FAR FROM SMOOTH.
WE SAT DOWN WITH STATE SENATE
HEALTH COMMITTEE CHAIR, GUSTAVO
RIVERA, TO DISCUSS THE
CHALLENGES WITH THAT TRANSITION.
(13:05):
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US, SENATOR.
>> A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU.
SO WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT.
WE'LL JUMP RIGHT NO.
START BY TELLING ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT THE CONSUMER-DIRECT
PERSONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS
AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO NEW
YORKERS?
>> SO THE CONSUMER-DIRECT
PERSONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR
CDPAP, AS IT'S KNOWN, IS A
(13:26):
PROGRAM THAT THEY START, I
BELIEVE, BACK IN 1995.
THE GOAL HERE IS-- IT'S A
MEDICAID-FUND PROGRAM, AND THE
GOAL HERE IS TO MAKE SURE IF YOU
ARE A PERSON WHO IS DISABLED,
ELDERLY BUT STILL ARE SOMEWHAT
PHYSICALLY LIMITED BUT STILL
HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE
THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY CHOOSE THE
PERSON WHO IS YOUR PERSONAL
ASSISTANT.
SOMEONE THAT HELPS YOU, YOU
KNOW, GET OUT OF BED IN THE
(13:47):
MORNING, FEED YOURSELF, YOU
KNOW, GET DRESS, ET CETERA.
ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT YOU DO,
ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING AND
IT IS FUND BY MEDICAID AND YOU
CAN ACTUALLY CHOOSE A FAMILY
MEMBER.
SO YOU CAN HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS
YOUR NIECE OR YOUR BROTHER OR
WHATEVER.
THERE'S ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
THAT IS WHAT THE PROGRAM IS.
>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE
(14:07):
TRANSITION SO FAR?
YOU KNOW, WHY HAVE YOU SPOKEN
OUT AGAINST THIS TRANSITION?
>> WELL THIS IS A FAMILY SHOW,
SO I WOULD SAY IT IS A POOP SHOW
FROM THE BEGINNING.
I REMEMBER LAST YEAR WHEN WE--
WHEN THE GOVERNOR INSIST THAT
THIS BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL
BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS, AND IT WAS
INCLUDED IN THE FINAL BUDGET
(14:28):
THAT WE VOTED ON AND I REMEMBER
DEBATING IT ON THE FLOOR OF THE
SENATE TELLING MY REPUBLICAN AND
DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES THAT YES,
I WAS VOTING FOR IT, BECAUSE IT
WAS INCLUDED AS PART OF THE
BUDGET PACKAGE, IF YOU WILL, BUT
THAT I DIDN'T AGREE WITH IT.
I DIDN'T AGREE WITH IT THEN.
I DID NOT THINK IT WAS A GOOD
IDEA.
TAKE TWO STEPS BACK.
THE ISSUE IS-- AND IT'S TRUE--
THAT THE WAY THE PROGRAM IS
(14:48):
STRUCTURE FROM THE BEGINNING
MADE IT SO CERTAIN FOLKS MIGHT
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
THE WAY THAT IT WORKS IS THAT IF
YOU ARE-- LET'S SAY, I AM A
CONSUMER AND I HAVE A PERSONAL
ASSISTANT.
LET'S SAY YOU'RE MY PERSONAL
ASSISTANT.
THERE'S AN ENTITY CALL THE
FISCAL INTERMEDIARY, RFI, THAT
ACTUALLY PAYS YOU.
I'M NOT GO TO PAY YOU FROM MY
POCKET.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
(15:09):
HUMAN RESOURCES, ET CETERA.
SO THIS FI, FISCAL INTERMEDIARY
ACTUALLY TAKES CARE OF THE
PAPERWORK AND THE MONEY FLOWS
THROUGH THEM TO PAY YOU.
SO THE ISSUE IS THAT THERE WERE
SOME COMPANY, THAT IS TRUE, THAT
TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE WAY THE
SYSTEM WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN.
THEY ESTABLISH A BUNCH OF FIS
THAT DIDN'T PARTICULARLY CARE
ABOUT YOU AS A WORKER OR ME AS A
(15:30):
CONSUMER.
IT IS TRUE THAT WE HAD TO
ACTUALLY CHANGE THAT.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN PRO THE STATUS
QUO ON THIS ISSUE.
THE PROBLEM IS IS THAT WHAT THE
GOVERNOR DID WAS FORCE US TO
ACCEPT GOING FROM WHAT OUR
COUPLE HUNDRED FISCAL
INTERMEDIARIES AROUND THE STATE
TO ONE SINGLE FI.
(15:50):
AND TO DO IT IN A VERY SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME, IN JUST A FEW
MONTHS' TIME WITH A PROGRAM THAT
IS MANY, MANY TIMES LARGER THAN
THE LARGEST ONE ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
SO IT IS-- IT WAS JUST
BONE-HEADED.
IT WAS-- IT WAS TERRIBLY MANAGED
AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE SEEING
TO THIS DAY ALL OF THE-- ALL OF
(16:10):
THE WAYS IN THIS WHICH THIS
INCREDIBLY MISMANAGED AND
MISHANDLED PROCESS HAS MEANT
THAT SOME WORKERS ARE LEAVING,
SOME WORKERS ARE LEAVING THEIR
CONSUMERS BECAUSE THEY DON'T
KNOW IF THEY'RE EVER GO TO GET
PAID.
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE
THE TRANSITION EVEN THOUGH IN
GOOD FAITH THEY'VE TRIED TO DO
SO.
>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF SOME OF
THE ROAD BLOCKS THAT HAVE TRIED
(16:30):
TO, YOU KNOW, DELAY OR STOP THIS
TRANSITION?
MOST RECENTLY THERE WAS A
RESTRAINING ORDER ISSUE TO
PREVENT THE STATE FROM FORCING
OUT HOME CARE AGENCIES THAT ACT
AS MIDDLE MEN.
I'M WONDERING, WHAT KIND OF
IMPACT DO YOU THINK ROAD BLOCKS
LIKE THIS HAVE HAD ON THIS
TRANSITION?
>> FORTUNATELY NOT ENOUGH.
WHEN WE'RE TALK ABOUT ROAD
BLOCKS-- THIS IS THE THING.
(16:51):
NONE OF US BELIEVE THAT THIS
TRANSITION WAS DONE RIGHT OR
THAT IT WAS THE RIGHT TRANSITION
TO MAKE.
THERE WAS A BILL THAT I
INTRODUCED LAST YEAR.
NOW WE VOTED ON THE BUDGET LAST
YEAR IN THE END OF MARCH,
BEGINNING OF APRIL, AND SINCE--
AND THEN AFTER THAT IMMEDIATELY,
I START WORK AND THIS WAS PART
OF THE BUDGET DEAL AS I SAID
EARLIER.
IMMEDIATELY I START WORK WITH
(17:12):
COLLEAGUES AS WELL AS
STAKEHOLDERS TO PUT A BILL
TOGETHER TO CREATE WHAT I
THOUGHT WAS A REASONABLE
ALTERNATIVE TO THE GOVERNOR'S
INSIST CHANGE.
I INTRODUCED THAT BILL IN THE
MIDDLE OF LAST YEAR AND THE
REASON I DIDN'T INTRODUCE IT
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BUDGET WAS
BECAUSE IT TOOK A COUPLE OF
MONTHS TO COOK IT RIGHT.
IT TOOK A COUPLE OF MONDAYS TO
WORK OUT ALL THE KINKS.
WE INTRODUCED WHAT I THINK STILL
(17:35):
IS A REASONABLE ALTERNATIVE TO
WHAT WAS FORCED BY THE GOVERNOR.
BUT THAT BILL WAS NOT CONSIDER
AND THEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF
THE YEAR WHEN THE TRANSITION
OFFICIALLY BEGAN, MANY OF US
HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY TALKING
ABOUT THIS.
WE HAVE BEEN ENDLESSLY
TALKING ABOUT IT.
I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT PUBLICLY
AND PRIVATELY OVER AND OVER
AGAIN TO THE POINT THAT DURING
(17:55):
THE BUDGET HEARINGS A FEW MONTHS
AGO, SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO THE
MEDICAID DIRECTOR AS WELL AS THE
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH FOR THE
STATE OF NEW YORK, I JUST ASK
THEM DIRECTLY, DO YOU HAVE A
PLAN B IF THIS DOESN'T ACTUALLY
WORK, AND THE RESPONSE WAS JUST,
WELL, YOU JUST GOT TO-- PEOPLE
JUST GOT TO START DOING THE
PROCESS.
I SAID, I GET THAT.
WHAT IF PEOPLE ACTUALLY START
(18:15):
THE PROCESS AND GOOD FAITH TRIED
TO GO THROUGH IT.
OH, THERE'S PEOPLE PLANTING
MISINFORMATION.
SO WE WERE CONSTANTLY-- THE ROAD
BLOCKS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
AND I WILL BE HONEST, WERE
PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF.
OF COURSE I WANT TO ROAD BLOCK
THIS.
AND I WANT TO BECAUSE I HAD BEEN
CONSISTENTLY TALK ABOUT THE FACT
THAT THIS NEEDED TO BE DELAYED.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WHEN IT
(18:36):
BECAME CLEAR TO ME THAT THESE
FOLKS WERE JUST HEAD TOWARDS THE
CLIFF.
THEY WERE DRIVING A BUS.
THE GOVERNOR, HERSELF, WAS
DRIVING A BUS TOWARDS A CLIFF
WITHOUT CARING ABOUT WHAT WAS GO
TO HAPPEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE CLIFF, I STOPPED TALKING
ABOUT MY BILL AS A REASONABLE
ALTERNATIVE, AND I START TALKING
ABOUT A DELAY.
I THOUGHT IF YOU WERE INSISTENT
ON THIS ONE FI BUSINESS WHICH I
(18:56):
THOUGHT WAS A BAD IDEA THEN AND
I THINK IS A BAD IDEA NOW, AT
THE VERY LEAST YOU COULD DELAY
THE PROCESS SO THE PEOPLE WHO IN
GOOD FAITH WANT TO MAKE THE
TRANSITION AND MAKE SURE THEY
CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SERVICES AND
CONTINUE AS WORKERS TO BE ABLE
TO GET PAID FOR THEIR WORK, THAT
IT DIDN'T FALL OFF A CLIFF, BUT
WE WERE-- IT FELL ON DEAF EARS,
(19:18):
AND THE GOVERNOR AND THE
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH PROCEEDED
TO DRIVE THAT BUS OFF A CLIFF
AND THE BUS IS CAREENING DOWN
THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN AS WE
SPEAK.
>> AND WHAT DID YOU MAKE-- YOU
TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE DELAY.
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH GAVE IT
A, QUOTE, GRACE PERIOD.
>> NOT A DELAY.
IT WASN'T A DELAY.
THEY CALL IT A GRACE PERIOD, BUT
SEE, THIS IS THE PROBLEM.
THEY SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT-- BY
(19:38):
THE WAY, WHEN THEY DID THAT A
COUPLE OF DAY BEFORE THE APRIL
1ST DEADLINE, IT WAS AN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THEY
COULDN'T GET IT RIGHT.
THAT WAS THE FIRST THING.
INSTEAD OF TRY TO GET IT RIGHT
AND DOING WHAT WE ALL HAD ASK
THEM WHICH WAS JUST TO DO A
DELAY WHICH THE GOVERNOR COULD
DO BY AN ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION,
INSTEAD, WHAT THEY DID-- THEY
SAID WE HAVE A GRACE PERIOD.
(20:00):
THERE WAS A LAWSUIT THAT WAS
BROUGHT AND THEN JUDGE-- THEY
ISSUE A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING
ORDER AND THE ADMINISTRATION
INTERPRET IT BY SAYING IF YOU--
LET'S GO BACK TO THIS, RIGHT.
I'M THE CONSUMER.
YOU ARE THE PERSONAL ASSISTANT.
IT WAS INTERPRET, THE TEMPORARY
RESTRAINING ORDER ON ITS FACE
WOULD SAY, HEY, STATE, AFTER
(20:22):
APRIL 1ST, THE STATUTE SAYS THAT
ONLY PPL, WHICH IS THIS
COMPANY-- WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALK
ABOUT THIS TERRIBLE COMPANY, BUT
OKAY.
PPL, WHICH IS THE SINGLE FISCAL
INTERMEDIARY WHICH HAS BEEN
ALLOW TO WORK, THEY'RE THE ONLY
ONES THAT CAN PAY ANY WORKER
AFTER APRIL 1ST.
A DELAY WOULD BE TO SAY, COULD
(20:43):
WE MAKE SURE THAT UNTIL PEOPLE
MAKE THE ACTUAL TRANSITION TO
PPL AS WORKERS AND AS CONSUMERS
THAT WHATEVER FISCAL
INTERMEDIARY IS STILL PROVIDING
FOR THEIR PAPERWORK, MAINTAINING
TIME, ET CETERA, COULD WE MAKE
SURE THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO
DO THAT LEGALLY?
WELL, THEY DIDN'T ISSUE A DELAY.
SO THAT HAPPEN ON APRIL 1ST.
(21:04):
AND THEN THAT MEANT THAT THE
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
WHICH WAS ISSUE BY THE JUDGE ON
ITS FACE WOULD SAY, WELL, YOU
CAN HAVE THAT FISCAL
INTERMEDIARY, THAT THIRD ONE,
NOT PPL, THE OTHER ONE, WHATEVER
IT IS, ABC HEALTH, RIGHT, ABC
HOME CARE, ABC HOME CARE IS YOUR
COMPANY, THE FISCAL
INTERMEDIARY, BUT NOW IT'S APRIL
(21:25):
2ND.
BECAUSE OF THE TEMPORARY
RESTRAINING ORDER ON ITS FACE,
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE
WHILE YOU'RE DOING THE PAPERWORK
TO GET TRANSFERRED OVER TO PPL
TO BE PAID BY THIS ONE.
HOWEVER, THE STATE SAID, IF YOU
HAD ANY CONTACT WITH PPL, YOU
ARE DEEP TO BE COMPLETE.
YOU ARE DEEM, AS A WORKER, AND
ME, AS A CONSUMER TO HAVE
(21:45):
ALREADY MADE THE TRANSITION.
THEREFORE LEGALLY, ABC HOME CARE
CAN'T KEEP YOUR TIME, CAN'T
ISSUE PAYMENTS, CAN'T DO
ANYTHING.
EVEN THOUGH THE TEMPORARY
RESTRAINING ORDER ON ITS FACE
SAYS THAT SHOULD BE THE CASE.
SO THE STATE COMPLETELY BUNGLED
THAT UP, TOO.
THEY DIDN'T EVEN ISSUE AN ACTUAL
DELAY.
THEY CALL IT-- THEY CALL IT A
WHATEVER THEY CALL IT, A GRACE
(22:08):
PERIOD, BUT IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY
SOLVE ANYTHING BECAUSE THIS IS--
I MEAN, ANOTHER PIECE IS THAT
THE TRANSITION, THE INTERACTIONS
WITH PPL WERE A COMPLETE MESS.
THE WEBSITE DIDN'T WORK.
THEY COULDN'T GET ANYBODY ON THE
PHONE.
THE OFFICES PHYSICALLY WEREN'T,
DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY IN THEM AND
THIS IS WHILE THE COMMISSIONER
(22:28):
OF HEALTH LIED, AND I WILL SAY
THAT VERY CLEARLY.
THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH LIED
ABOUT WHAT WAS AVAILABLE TO
PEOPLE WHO ARE TRY TO MAKE
TRANSITION.
SAID GO TO THE OFFICES.
OFFICES DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY TO
STAFF THEM.
CALL THE NUMBER.
PEOPLE NEVER GOT A CALL BACK.
CALL-- THEY SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE.
PEOPLE COULD NEVER GET HE
SOMEBODY WHO SPOKE THEIR ACTUAL
(22:49):
LANGUAGE.
ACCESS THE WEBSITE, AND THE
WEBSITE SAYS ERROR, ERROR, ERROR
EVERY TIME YOU TRY TO ACCESS IT.
ONE TIME AFTER ANOTHER.
SO THIS IS WHAT HAPPEN TO PEOPLE
WHO, AGAIN, IN GOOD FAITH WERE
TRY TO MAKE THE TRANSITION.
WHAT THE GOVERNOR SEEMS TO SAY
IS THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE
WHO ARE BAD ACTORS WHO HAVE
SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TRYING
(23:10):
TO MISINFORM THE PUBLIC AND
WORKERS AND CONSUMERS.
THOSE PEOPLE DO EXIST.
THOSE PEOPLE, THOSE BAD ACTORS
WHO HAVE BEEN BENEFITING FROM
THE CURRENT SYSTEM, THAT DOES
EXIST.
BUT I DON'T CARE ABOUT THOSE
PEOPLE.
I CARE ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO COME
TO THIS OFFICE AND WHO CALL THIS
OFFICE AND WHO CALL MY OFFICE IN
(23:31):
THE BRONX TELLING ME ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES THAT THEY'VE HAD TO
ACTUALLY MAKE THE TRANSITION
WORK FOR THEM AND THEIR
CONSUMERS.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT I CARE
ABOUT, AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE
THAT APPARENTLY THIS
ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT CARE
ABOUT BECAUSE THEY STOPPED
LISTENING TO THEM MONTHS AGO.
>> THE HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS
FOR WORKERS AND PATIENTS ON THE
(23:55):
NEW SINGULAR FISCAL INTERMEDIARY
PARTNERSHIPS, LLC, IS EITHER
LIMITED, SO THERE WAS A REPORT
RECENTLY BY THE FISCAL POLICY
INSTITUTE THAT HAD SAID THAT THE
OPTIONS DON'T COVER BASIC
SERVICES AND HOW IT'S, YOU KNOW,
GO TO ESSENTIALLY LEAVE SOME
WORKERS POTENTIALLY WITHOUT
INSURANCE.
WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE
(24:15):
FINDINGS FROM THIS REPORT, AND
WHAT'S HAPPEN WITH THESE
OPTIONS?
>>THE FINDINGS OF THE REPORT
WERE JUST DESCRIBING THE REALITY
OF THE SITUATION.
THIS IS NOT AN INVESTIGATION AS
MUCH AS IT WAS JUST LIKE, HEY,
SO WHAT'S THAT HEALTH COVERAGE
THAT YOU AS A WORKER WOULD HAVE
ACCESS TO?
THE SAME WAY THAT YOU OR I OR
WHATEVER INSURANCE THAT WE HAVE
AND ULTIMATELY WE WILL HAVE THE
NEW YORK HEALTH ACT, WHICH MEAN
WE WON'T NEED THE INSURANCE
(24:36):
PRODUCT, BUT REGARDLESS.
RIGHT NOW, IF YOU HAVE AN
INSURANCE PRODUCT, WHATEVER IT
IS, YOU CAN GET INFORMATION
ABOUT, OKAY, SO WHAT DOES IT
ACTUALLY COVER, RIGHT.
YOU CAN GET THAT INFORMATION
FROM THE HEALTH INSURANCE
COMPANY.
SO THAT'S WHAT THIS
INVESTIGATION DID.
IT JUST ASK, SHOW ME, SHOW ME
WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE, AND WHEN
YOU SEE THE THINGS THAT ARE
(24:58):
COVER, BASICALLY THERE'S ONE OR
TWO THINGS THAT ARE COVER.
THE POINT IS YOU HAD ONE THING
AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER
AFTER ANOTHER THAT WERE NOT
COVER.
THINGS THAT WOULD BE IN A BASIC
HEALTH PLAN SHOULD BE AVAILABLE
TO YOU, SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO
YOU AND THEY'RE NOT.
AND THIS IS FOR THE WORKERS WHO
HAVE BEEN FORCE TO TAKE THIS
PLAN ON, WHO MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE
(25:19):
A BETTER PLAN AVAILABLE TO THEM
IF THEY HADN'T ACTUALLY MADE THE
RAN SESSION OVER TO PPL.
IT'S A MESS OF THE ENTIRE THING
FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM.
>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
TAKING TIME TO SPEAK WITH US,
SENATOR.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
SITING DOWN AND CHATTING WITH
US.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN, AND I'M
SORRY FOR THE SOLILOQUIES.
>> WE'RE SPEAKING WITH STATE
SENATOR GUSTAVO RIVERA.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
(25:41):
>> WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS
EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."
THANK YOU FOR TUNING AND SEE YOU
NEXT WEEK.
[ THEME MUSIC ]
>>ANNOUNCER (26:35):
FUNDING FOR "NEW
YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.
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