skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Monday, July 15, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

After the Trump assassination attempt, defining democracy gets even harder; Trump picks Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, a once-fierce critic turned loyal ally, as his GOP running mate; DC residents push back on natural gas infrastructure build-up a new law allows youth on Medi-Cal to consent to mental health treatment.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Former President Trump is injured but safe after an attempted assassination many condemn political violence. Democrats' fears intensify over Biden's run. And North Carolina could require proof of citizenship to vote.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Enticing remote workers to move is a new business strategy in rural America, Eastern Kentucky preservationists want to save the 20th century home of a trailblazing coal miner, and a rule change could help small meat and poultry growers and consumers.

Advocates Urge Age Cap Removal on NY Medicaid Buy-In Program

play audio
Play

Monday, March 20, 2023   

New York disability-rights advocates are calling for the age cap on the state's Medicaid Buy In Program to be raised or eliminated.

The program is designed for people with disabilities who work and earn more than would be allowable to qualify for regular Medicaid. This ensures people with disabilities won't be at risk of losing vital healthcare coverage, while still earning some income.

The age cap of 65 could cause people to lose coverage they'd need to to get ready for the day.

Heidi Siegfried, health policy director for the Center for the Independence of the Disabled New York, describes the challenges people can face once they reach the program's age limit.

"If they can't get home care, for example," said Siegfried, "like I was saying, if you need home care to help you transfer from your bed to your wheelchair or to help you get showered or to help you dress, you wouldn't even be able to get ready to go to work. You would reach age 65 and not have access to home care, and you would probably have to quit your job."

She said people would have to quit working so they can have access to Medicaid services to ensure they have access to home care.

In New York's 2024 Budget, Gov. Kathy Hochul is allocating $60 million starting in 2025 to expand the program for more people with disabilities to work and still qualify for coverage.

One worry people have is as the COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end, Medicaid's continuous coverage protections will end too. This means anyone who aged out of the program during the pandemic will see a loss of coverage once their renewal is up.

But, Siegfried said she is hopeful the age limit will be removed once the upcoming budget passes.

"If people want to keep working up until whenever, and they enjoy their work and they don't want to retire, they should be able to be productive citizens," said Siegfried. "Work can often create meaning in your life, especially for people with disabilities."

She noted that people with disabilities don't have high employment rates in the state, with that possibly correlating to a loss in coverage should they go to work.

According to a 2022 report, there are one million working-age adults with a disability living in New York. But, only 33% are employed, compared with the 74% employment rate for working-age adults across the state.



Disclosure: Center for Independence of the Disabled New York contributes to our fund for reporting on Disabilities. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
"I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin," wrote Former President Donald Trump on social media. (Gage Skidmore/Flickr)

Social Issues

play sound

Gov. Spencer Cox is calling for unity as well as the condemnation of political violence in light of the assassination attempt on former President …


Environment

play sound

Last week, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee heard testimony on the state and federal response to the collapse of the Key Bridge…

Environment

play sound

Forecasters are warning New Englanders to prepare for an "above-normal" number of hurricanes this summer. Hurricane Beryl was already the strongest …


Line 5, an Enbridge pipeline that was built in 1953, runs for 645 miles from Wisconsin, under the Straits of Mackinac, through Michigan to Sarnia, Ontario. (Jorge Moro/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

A Michigan environmental group is addressing an appeal challenging the state's decision to approve the enclosure of the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline…

Social Issues

play sound

Civil rights groups are sounding the alarm about potential threats to American democracy posed by Project 2025, a roadmap created by the Heritage …

In a 2024 report from the National Education Association, South Dakota ranked 49th in the U.S. for average teacher salary, at about $53,000 a year. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

A coalition of South Dakota groups is voicing its opposition to a ballot measure intended to end a state sales tax on consumables. If passed this …

Social Issues

play sound

North Dakota officials will highlight a new project today to boost childcare access for parents with nontraditional work hours. A local provider …

Social Issues

play sound

With just over a month before Indiana university students return, a new law affecting college professor tenures is in full effect. The law targets …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021