Lance's Corner

Governor Hochul Announces Aid to New Yorkers Affected by July 10, 2024, Severe Weather

Sep 10, 2024

Per the notice below, Governor Hochul has announced aid to New York residents and businesses affected by the severe weather on July 10, 2024.

Governor Hochul Announces U.S. Small Business Administration to Offer Federal Assistance to Residents and Businesses Affected by July 10, 2024 Severe Weather

Homeowners, Residents and Businesses in Lewis, Essex, Clinton, Franklin, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Oneida, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Warren and Washington Counties May Apply for U.S. Small Business Administration Low-Interest Loans

State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and County Officials Conducted Preliminary Damage Assessments To Obtain Assistance for Impacted Areas Following the Severe Weather Event

Loan Applications Available Online

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced federal assistance is available to New Yorkers in Lewis and Essex counties, and the contiguous counties of Clinton, Franklin, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Oneida, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Washington who were impacted by severe weather on July 10.  Homeowners, renters, and businesses are now eligible to apply for U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest loans to aid in recovery from the effects of the storms that resulted in significant damage to homes and businesses.

“My administration has worked diligently to provide resources to areas affected by the July 10 severe weather, and thanks to our federal partners, small businesses can now apply for assistance to rebuild and recover,” Governor Hochul said.  “Severe weather has become all too common in our state, but we maintain a steadfast commitment to supporting the businesses and communities that make New York special.”

Homeowners, residents, and businesses in the declared counties are now eligible for the SBA loans.  SBA loans can be very helpful to eligible parties who need financial assistance to get on the road to recovery following weather-related disasters and other emergencies.  The following groups may be eligible for SBA disaster loans:

  • Homeowners: up to $500,000 to repair their primary residence.
  • Homeowners and renters: up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.
  • Business owners: up to $2,000,000 for the replacement of real property, inventories, machinery, equipment, and other physical losses.
  • Businesses and non-profits: Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2,000,000 to provide necessary working capital until normal operations resume after a disaster.

New York State Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “Governor Hochul and our federal partners worked diligently to secure access to these low-interest loans.  This funding will help homeowners, renters and businesses recover from the losses this storm created.”

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said, “In July, homes and businesses across Upstate NY and the North Country suffered immense flood damage due to severe weather.  Now, homeowners and business owners can access U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest loans to recover from the storms, make critical repairs, and replace destroyed property.  I will continue to fight to help get people and businesses back on their feet following this devastating storm, and help the North Country and Upstate New York to rebuild stronger.”

Senator Kirstin Gillibrand said, “In July, severe weather caused significant damage to homes and businesses across Central New York and the North Country, so I’m grateful to see impacted residents and businesses will now be offered the federal assistance they need to recover.  Making these disaster loans accessible is a critical next step for those impacted to rebuild and regain their livelihoods.  I thank the SBA for offering this critical federal assistance and I will continue to fight to ensure all New Yorkers have every available federal resource to rebuild following severe weather events.”

New Yorkers can find additional information, download applications, and apply online.  They may also call SBA's Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or e-mail: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.  Locations for in-person assistance and applications will be announced in the coming days.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, can dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.  The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is November 8, 2024.  The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 9, 2025.

About the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides leadership, coordination, and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism, natural disasters, threats, fires, and other emergencies.  For more information, visit NYSDHSES on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and visit dhses.ny.gov.

USDOL Issues Comprehensive Employer Guidance on Long COVID

The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) has issued a comprehensive set of resources that can be accessed below for employers on dealing with Long COVID.

Supporting Employees with Long COVID: A Guide for Employers

The “Supporting Employees with Long COVID” guide from the USDOL-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) and Job Accommodation Network (JAN) addresses the basics of Long COVID, including its intersection with mental health, and common workplace supports for different symptoms.  It also explores employers’ responsibilities to provide reasonable accommodations and answers frequently asked questions about Long COVID and employment, including inquiries related to telework and leave.

Download the guide

Accommodation and Compliance: Long COVID

The Long COVID Accommodation and Compliance webpage from the USDOL-funded Job Accommodation Network (JAN) helps employers and employees understand strategies for supporting workers with Long COVID.  Topics include Long COVID in the context of disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), specific accommodation ideas based on limitations or work-related functions, common situations and solutions, and questions to consider when identifying effective accommodations for employees with Long COVID.  Find this and other Long COVID resources from JAN, below:

Long COVID, Disability and Underserved Communities: Recommendations for Employers

The research-to-practice brief “Long COVID, Disability and Underserved Communities” synthesizes an extensive review of documents, literature and data sources, conducted by the USDOL-funded Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) on the impact of Long COVID on employment, with a focus on demographic differences.  It also outlines recommended actions organizations can take to create a supportive and inclusive workplace culture for people with Long COVID, especially those with disabilities who belong to other historically underserved groups.

Read the brief

Long COVID and Disability Accommodations in the Workplace

The policy brief “Long COVID and Disability Accommodations in the Workplace” explores Long COVID’s impact on the workforce and provides examples of policy actions different states are taking to help affected people remain at work or return when ready.  It was developed by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) as part of its involvement in USDOL’s State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED) initiative.

Download the policy brief

Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID

The report “Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID” summarizes key themes and takeaways from an ePolicyWorks national online dialogue through which members of the public were invited to share their experiences and insights regarding workplace challenges posed by Long COVID.  The dialogue took place during summer 2022 and was hosted by USDOL and its agencies in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Surgeon General.

Download the report

Working with Long COVID

The USDOL-published “Working with Long COVID” fact sheet shares strategies for supporting workers with Long COVID, including accommodations for common symptoms and resources for further guidance and assistance with specific situations.

Download the fact sheet

COVID-19: Long-Term Symptoms

This USDOL motion graphic informs workers with Long COVID that they may be entitled to temporary or long-term supports to help them stay on the job or return to work when ready, and shares where they can find related assistance.

Watch the motion graphic

A Personal Story of Long COVID and Disability Disclosure

In the podcast “A Personal Story of Long COVID and Disability Disclosure,” Pam Bingham, senior program manager for Intuit’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Tech team, shares her personal experience of navigating Long COVID symptoms at work.  The segment was produced by the USDOL-funded Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT) as part of its ongoing “Future of Work” podcast series.

Listen to the podcast

HHS OIG Issues Annual Report on State MFCUs

Per the notice below, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued its annual report on the performance of state Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs).

Medicaid Fraud Control Units Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report (OEI-09-24-00200) 

Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs) investigate and prosecute Medicaid provider fraud and patient abuse or neglect. OIG is the Federal agency that oversees and annually approves federal funding for MFCUs through a recertification process. This new report analyzed the statistical data on annual case outcomes—such as convictions, civil settlements and judgments, and recoveries—that the 53 MFCUs submitted for Fiscal Year 2023.  New York data is as follows:

Outcomes

  • Investigations1 - 556
  • Indicted/Charged - 9
  • Convictions - 8
  • Civil Settlements/Judgments - 28
  • Recoveries2 - $73,204,518

Resources

  • MFCU Expenditures3 - $55,964,293
  • Staff on Board4 - 257

1Investigations are defined as the total number of open investigations at the end of the fiscal year.

2Recoveries are defined as the amount of money that defendants are required to pay as a result of a settlement, judgment, or prefiling settlement in criminal and civil cases and may not reflect actual collections.  Recoveries may involve cases that include participation by other Federal and State agencies.

3MFCU and Medicaid Expenditures include both State and Federal expenditures.

4Staff on Board is defined as the total number of staff employed by the Unit at the end of the fiscal year.

Read the Full Report

View the Statistical Chart

Engage with the Interactive Map

GAO Issues Report on Medicaid Managed Care Service Denials and Appeal Outcomes

The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes.  GAO found that federal oversight is limited because it doesn't require states to report on Medicaid managed care service denials or appeal outcomes and there has not been much progress on plans to analyze and make the data publicly available.  To read the GAO report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes, use the first link below.  To read GAO highlights of the report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes, use the second link below.
https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106627.pdf  (GAO report on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes)
https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106627_high.pdf  (GAO highlights on federal use of state data on Medicaid managed care service denials and appeal outcomes)

CMS Issues Latest Medicare Regulatory Activities Update

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its latest update on its regulatory activities in the Medicare program.  While dentistry is only minimally connected to the Medicare program, Medicare drives the majority of health care policies and insurance reimbursement policies throughout the country.  Therefore, it always pays to keep a close eye on what CMS is doing in Medicare.  To read the latest CMS update on its regulatory activities in Medicare, use the link below.
https://www.cms.gov/training-education/medicare-learning-network/newsletter/2024-03-14-mlnc