RPEA Testifies at State Budget Hearing

On Wednesday, February 26, RPEA Board President Diana Hinchcliff testified before the Joint Fiscal Committees of the State Legislature at the Labor/Workforce Development Budget Hearing in Albany, NY.  Diana outlined RPEA’s top priorities for the FY 2025-2026 State Budget and legislative session, which include the following requests:

• Restore the Medicare Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMMA) reimbursement, which the Executive Budget proposed eliminating.
• Raise the pension Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), which has not been increased in 25 years.
• Require parity between Medicare-primary Empire Plan retirees and active employees for access to care in skilled nursing facilities.
• Prevent the healthcare benefits that retirees receive at retirement from being diminished or eliminated.

Click here to read RPEA’s testimony.