News & Info for NYS Council Members, 10/16

October 16, 2025

First, a little good news:

State Tax Receipts Remain Above Budget Division Projections (Finger Lakes Daily, 10/16)

https://www.fingerlakesdailynews.com/regional-state-congressional/state-tax-receipts-remain-above-budget-division-projections/

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New Report from National Council of Nonprofits. 10/16

How Government Funding Disruptions Affected Nonprofits in Early 2025

https://www.urban.org/research/publication/how-government-funding-disruptions-affected-nonprofits-early-2025

Statistic of the Month

A new report by the Urban Institute using a nationally representative survey found that one-third of nonprofits across the country experienced federal, state, or local government funding disruption in the first four-to-six months of 2025. At the same time, two-thirds of nonprofits expect an increase in demand for their services in the next twelve months. 

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New York’s not feeling a shutdown pinch — yet.

Politico, Nick Reisman, 10/16

ALBANY, New York — The Empire State’s tax revenue came in higher than expected during the first half of its fiscal year, a dynamic that stands to shift with the ongoing federal government shutdown preventing thousands of federal workers from being paid.

State tax revenue reached $59.9 billion as of last month, which is $702.2 million more than projected by the state Division of Budget, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced. The fiscal picture may darken, however, if the two-week federal government shutdown and spending cuts by Washington begin to take an economic toll on New York.

Hochul, meanwhile, told reporters earlier Wednesday that she’s concerned the ongoing impasse in Washington will hurt federal workers who live in New York.

“There’s over 31,000 federal employees here on Long Island,” she said at a Nassau County event. “They have families to feed and work to do. Some of them are working without any pay. They’re under high stress jobs without the appreciation of the federal government that rewards them with a paycheck.”

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Medicare Telehealth, Hospital At Home Payments on Hold (Modern Healthcare gift article)

Provisions allowing fee-for-service Medicare to cover telehealth and hospital-at-home services expired Oct. 1

https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-regulation/mh-medicare-doctor-payments-shutdown-cms/?utm_id=gfta-ur-251016&share-code=FF4NOXE4LVBB7GNLQ3YDGF3T4E&user_id=5621336&customer_secondary_source=aac_articleGifting

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MLN Connects Newsletter, 10/15/25

Claims Hold Update

In anticipation of possible Congressional action, CMS has instructed all Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to continue to temporarily hold claims with dates of service of October 1, 2025, and later for services impacted by the expired Medicare legislative payment provisions passed under the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025. This includes all claims paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, ground ambulance transport claims, and all Federally Qualified Health Center claims. Providers may continue to submit these claims, but payment will not be released until the hold is lifted.

Absent Congressional action, beginning October 1, 2025, many of the statutory limitations that were in place for Medicare telehealth services prior to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency took effect again for services that are not behavioral health services. These include prohibition of many services provided to beneficiaries in their homes and outside of rural areas, and hospice recertifications that require a face-to-face encounter. In the absence of Congressional action, practitioners who choose to perform telehealth services that are not payable by Medicare on or after October 1, 2025, may want to evaluate providing beneficiaries with an Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN). Further information on use of the ABN, including ABN forms and form instructions: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/forms-notices/beneficiary-notices-initiative/ffs-abn. Practitioners should monitor Congressional action and may choose to hold claims associated with telehealth services that are not payable by Medicare in the absence of Congressional action. For further information: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coverage/telehealth.

CMS notes that the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 allows clinicians in applicable Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to provide and receive payment for covered telehealth services to certain Medicare beneficiaries without geographic restriction and in the beneficiary’s home. There is no special application or approval process for applicable ACOs or their ACO participants or ACO providers/suppliers. Clinicians in applicable ACOs can furnish and receive payment for covered telehealth services under these special telehealth flexibilities. For more information: 

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/shared-savings-program-telehealth-fact-sheet.pdf (PDF).

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(OMH Announcement)

Dear Colleagues:

The New York State Office of Mental Health is hosting a series of forums to discuss the recent federal actions and plan for potential impacts on New York’s mental health system. These forums – five virtual and one in-person – follow two town hall meetings that were hosted by the agency this summer, and are designed to gather feedback from provider agencies, associations, advocacy organizations, and county leadership.

One virtual forum is slated for each OMH region and there will be one in-person discussion in Albany:

 

 

 

 

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  • Albany In-Person Forum
    • 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19
    • Capital Region BOCES, 900 Watervliet-Shaker Rd., Albany 12205
    • In-Person Only Registration: https://redcap.link/nov19omhforum

 

Each forum will cover the same content, featuring an opening presentation, followed by small break-out group discussions. During the break-out discussions, an OMH facilitator will ask participants specific questions aimed at planning ahead to help New Yorkers maintain coverage and access to care, provide technical support to help agencies maintain revenue streams, and discuss other topics related to the federal actions.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Attendance will be limited at both the virtual and in-person meetings to ensure the break-out groups are small. Advanced registration is required to join, for your applicable region. Please limit attendance to those who will be able to communicate during these discussions organizationally. OMH staff attendance is limited to those supporting the presentation or break-out groups. 

Questions may be directed to Planning@omh.ny.gov.

 

Erica Van De Wal

Director, Office of Planning

New York State Office of Mental Health