Latest news with #LegislativeBreakfast
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce holds its 2025 state legislative luncheon
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — A luncheon was held designed to bring business leaders and state legislators together to discuss local issues. The 2025 State Legislative Luncheon was hosted by the Peoria Chamber of Commerce from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Monday at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel. The panel of elected officials included Senator Li Arellano Jr., Senator David Koehler, Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth, and Representative Travis Weaver The event gave a chance for an off-the-record discussion, so people in attendance could engage with the elected officials and discuss upcoming policies, economic initiatives, and business regulations. 'This event is a crucial platform for fostering meaningful dialogue between lawmakers and business leaders,' Jessica Linder Gallo, the CEO of the Peoria Chamber of Commerce said. 'By facilitating these conversations, we ensure that the voices of Central Illinois businesses are heard and considered in the policymaking process.' State, local lawmakers discuss priorities at annual Legislative Breakfast The lawmakers took turns answering questions on pension funding, the Safe-T Act, infrastructure, debt relief, and the 2025 Illinois state budget. 'The reality is, if we don't get serious about paying down our debt, my kids will be on the hook for that. I don't want that. I want to make smart financially sound decisions today so that in 30 years I can have kids who say, why would I go to Tennessee? I live in Illinois. That's what I want to hear them say. Today, They'd be saying the opposite,' said Representative Weaver. State Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth said the event was a great way to provide transparency about important issues. 'I'm excited to have a real conversation about the things that are most pressing to not just Illinois but most importantly, Peorians and Central Illinoisans. We were able to cover issues from infrastructure to education to taxes to safety, and really doing it in a bipartisan way at times,' she said. Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jessica Linder Gallo said the conversation was important to the region's economic stability. 'The biggest takeaway that I'm hearing from business owners as they're leaving is knowing that we have good partners in Springfield and in the statehouse. I think the collaboration across the aisle of our legislators here in central Illinois was showcased and their desire and willingness to help businesses and the entire region thrive.' said Gallo. The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce collaborated with other local chambers to strengthen the conversation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Funding main focus of Luzerne County Providers Association's annual Legislative Breakfast
Feb. 21—PLAINS TWP. — The Luzerne County Providers Association held its annual Legislative Breakfast on Friday to discuss issues of concern, but the main focus was on the uncertainty of funding. The morning-long event was held at The Woodlands Inn & Resort. Attending the event were: Sen. Marty Flynn, D-Scranton; Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre; Rep. Jim Haddock, D-Pittston Township; Rep. Alec Ryncavage, R-Hanover Township; Rep. Jamie Walsh, R-Ross Township; and representatives of Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township; Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver, R-Northumberland; and Rep. Brenda Pugh, R-Pittston Township. Richard Edley, president/CEO of RCPA — Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association — and Jack Phillips, director of government affairs for RCPA, co-moderated the event. "This year, more than ever, getting a budget is going to be tough," Edley said. "Human services need to be funded, but the key is going to be federal support and whether there are significant changes to Medicaid. Sen. Flynn said Pennsylvania is facing a $1.2 billion structural deficit. "We need new revenue sources — we can't cut our way to prosperity," Flynn said, adding that he doubts the legislature will approve recreational marijuana legalization. Legislative and administrative priorities for RCPA —Advocate for increased funding and transparent models that reflect true "cost-plus"service reimbursement. —Medicaid capitation, county-based funding, value-based payment programs. —Workforce initiatives and funding that build the infrastructure for current and future-systems needs. —Licensed professional staff, DSPs, DCWs, counselors, case managers, and peers Regulatory reform: decreasing administrative burden; reducing barriers to access for care. Behavioral health (Adult and children's mental health; Substance use disorder services) —Ensure that the BH HealthChoices capitation issues related to the MA unwinding are appropriately addressed without negatively impacting the service delivery system. —Ensure the expansion of telehealth flexibilities through a new bulletin, legislation, and practice policy. —Utilize the opening of the OMHSAS State Plan Amendment bi-annually to address ongoing barriers to systems access and administrative burden (i.e., IBHS, family-based, outpatient psychiatric clinics). —Reopen the IBHS regulations to address access barriers and payment equity. —Ensure the promulgation of the PRTF regulations are contingent on the equitable funding of implementation. —Support for expansion and funding of the ICWCs. —Address redundancy and inconsistency among substance use disorder treatment audits and overseers. —Support efforts to ensure opioid settlement funds are used with fidelity to the settlement agreement. —Continued advocacy efforts to ensure proper funding for county-based services. Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) —Advocate for restoration of the $93 million (state portion) reduction to the governor's budget and include a 3% inflationary adjustment factor in the SFY 2025/26 proposed budget. —Support ongoing stakeholder involvement and input in the implementation of performance-based contracting. —Continued advocacy for programs for the severely disabled (e.g., those with medical and behavioral needs). —Focus on revamping CPS and respecting individual choices. —Advocate for a broader, more inclusive interpretation of the CMS Settings Rule. —Create an effective appeal process for the Supports Inventory Scale (SIS). —Advocate for Standard Occupational Code (SOC) for DSPs. Physical disabilities and aging —Increase FFS rates for Personal Assistance Services and Residential Habilitation Services to reflect current market conditions and workforce challenges — a minimum of 15%. —Mandate a rate refresh process for all OLTL services, including managed care, based on OBRA Medicaid FFS. —Require consumer choice of providers in all consumer-directed services. —Require CHC-MCOs to make VBP programs available for all segments of the waivers. —Develop proactive partnerships with CHC-MCOs and BH-MCOs. Medical rehabilitation —Continued expansion of the 3-hour rule: advancing the Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Therapy Act. —Review Choice Demonstration — for year 2 Early intervention —Interim rate increase while early intervention rate methodology is completed for 2025/26 budget. —Improve system consistency across counties. —Clarify/expand access and eligibility criteria. Brain injury services —Meaningful changes and increases to funding and models; an increase has not been provided since 2011. —Create and develop a legislative package specific to brain injury issues. —Work with OLTL/DHS to develop a system in which rates are reviewed annually. —Develop a targeted plan to engage key providers, political leaders, and stakeholders to advocate for a legislative package addressing critical issues for BI services. —Encourage an improved system of oversight of the CHCMCOs by OLTL/DHS. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
