May 30, 2020
Dear Friends,
We have now lost more than 100,000 American lives to COVID-19, a painful milestone that fails to capture the unique tragedy of every life we have lost. This pandemic is far from over, and our response must rise to meet the crisis at hand.
We must work together to scale up testing and tracing, maintain essential community services, bolster supply chains and, most crucially, we must allow science and research to guide us every step of the way.
On Wednesday, I hosted a Coronavirus telephone town hall with constituents and local health care, education and economic development leaders to answer questions, provide resources and discuss the latest science and research as they shape our pandemic response. I am grateful to all who took the time to join this important conversation, ask questions and share experiences.
I was especially grateful for the participation of our expert panelists—Dr. David Liebers and Dr. Leslyn Williamson from Ellis Hospital, Greater Amsterdam School District Interim Superintendent Dr. Raymond Colucciello and Capital Region Chamber President and CEO Mark Eagan—who offered invaluable insights on safely ramping up our economy, the new realities our schools are facing, how we can improve our testing and tracing capabilities, and much more.
Responding to COVID-19 with policies grounded in science is our best hope to get through this crisis as quickly as possible and minimize loss of life as well as economic and social devastation. Among other things, that means for the duration of this pandemic and beyond, we must provide support to our essential workers, businesses and families who are in desperate need of help. Anything else will expose them, and us all, to unnecessary risks and ultimately prolong the crisis.
My colleagues and I responded to that need with the Heroes Act, legislation that delivers more money into the hands of laid-off workers, struggling families, small businesses, and communities so we can keep America’s firefighters, teachers, nurses, police officers, EMTs, water treatment workers, and countless others on the job when we need them most.
The Heroes Act provides more than $1.3 billion in crisis-response aid to New York’s Capital Region and a combined $49.5 billion to New York State overall. Under the bill:
- Local governments in Albany County receive a combined $341.5 million in FY2020 and $170.7 million in FY2021; TOTAL: $512.29 million
- Local governments in Schenectady County receive a combined $201.3 million in FY2020 and $100.6 million in FY 2021; TOTAL: $302.08 million
- Local governments in Montgomery County receive a combined $30.7 million in FY2020 and $15.3 million in FY 2021; TOTAL: $46.19 million
- Local governments in Rensselaer County receive a combined $164.2 million in FY2020 and $82.1 million in FY 2021; TOTAL: $246.39 million
- Local governments in Saratoga County receive a combined $134.5 million in FY2020 and $67.2 million in FY 2021; TOTAL: $201.85 million
This funding directly supports those who have stayed on the job at great personal risk and kept our communities going throughout the past few months. We will need their talents and effort all the more as the crisis continues to unfold.
One vital provision in the Heroes Act that provides unique support for our region is a long overdue fix to the broken Medicare Wage Index formula that unfairly shortchanges local hospitals and providers from receiving earned federal reimbursement. For more than a decade, I have fought alongside our Capital Region hospitals to change this unfair formula. This vital addition to the Heroes Act would result in $100 million in new federal funds to our region annually, so that local hospitals can better support patients and our communities.
As we move forward in our COVID-19 response, I would like to thank all of you for your strength and sacrifice over these months. We have come a long way, and while we will continue to face challenges, I know we will get through this, together.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
Throughout this pandemic, my office and I have worked to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations on any and all COVID-19 related topics. With that in mind, we are adding this new section to our regular newsletter! Here are a few recent developments that may be of interest to you:
- CVS is launching three new testing locations in our Capital Region that will open TODAY! These locations are:
- 16 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208
- 1544 Crescent Road, Clifton Park, NY 12065
- 885 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12206
- For more information, I encourage you to visit cvshealth.com/covid-19
- The following two provisions have been updated as eligible expenses for your Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) due to the CARES Act, bringing emergency assistance and additional health care provisions to Americans affected by COVID-19.
- Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and medicines: The CARES Act repeals the Affordable Care Act requirement that OTC drugs and medicines must be prescribed in order to be reimbursed under FSAs. This means that these plans can now pay for or reimburse OTC drugs and medicines without a prescription from a doctor.
- Menstrual care products: The CARES Act also deems expenses for menstrual care (feminine hygiene) products qualified medical expenses, which can be paid by an FSA.
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