Originally Posted - March 15, 2007


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NY AARP Supports Governor's Budget

ALBANY---Governor Eliot Spitzer received support Thursday from AARP New York for provisions in his budget that assist older New Yorkers. With 5.8 million people over the age of 50 and 2.6 million AARP members in the state, the organization is the leading advocacy group for older New Yorkers.

"As I travel across the state, older New Yorkers repeatedly tell me about their deep desire to receive the quality care they need to allow them to live with dignity in their homes, close to their families and friends," Spitzer said. "My budget plan delivers on a promise to aging New Yorkers to do just that."

The Governor's 2007-2008 budget:

    Maintains funding for home and community-based care and adds $8.5 million to support continued cost of living adjustments for Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly Program, Community Services for the Elderly Program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), to extend opportunities for aging New Yorkers to live in their homes and communities as long as possible;

    Increases SNAP funding by $1 million to expand the number of meals provided to the elderly by 160,000;

    Provides $5 million in funding to invest in innovative new technologies to expand and improve the availability of tele-home health care;

    Increases by $2.6 million funding to establish a single source of information to help consumers access information about available long-term health care; and

    Invests $200,000 to create a Family Caregiving Council to evaluate the needs of family caregivers and recommend improvements to meet their needs.

The Governor encouraged the statewide advocacy group to help him fundamentally restructure the state's health care priorities by shifting the focus from institutionally-based care to a patient-centered system that provides the quality care and services for long-term, home-based care.

In continuing his attack on the Senate Majority's health care resolution, Spitzer said the Senate proposal:

    --Foils any hope of universal coverage for uninsured children: The Senate rejects expanding Child Health Plus (CHP) to 400% above the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) and replacing it with an illogical system that, even under a best-case scenario, would increase CHP to just 300% of the FPL.

    --Sides with drug and pharmaceutical companies. The Senate rejected the reduction of the Average Wholesale Price the state pays for prescription drugs. Continues funding "phantom" residents and rejects redistribution of Graduate Medical.

    --Education dollars: The Senate restored funding for "phantom" residents and rejects a redistribution of GME dollars based on Medicaid costs, a major blow to those hospitals that serve high Medicaid populations like NYC's HHC hospitals.

    --Rejects new allocation methodology for workforce recruitment and retention money: The Senate rejects a new allocation based on Medicaid visits - thus rejecting the principle that Medicaid dollars should follow Medicaid patients and hurting hospitals that serve large percentages of Medicaid patients.

    --Eliminates major anti-Medicaid fraud efforts: The Senate rejected new auditors for the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General and rejected the proposals for a False Claims Act (which saves the state millions of dollars) and a Martin Act for Medicaid Health Care, which would give the Attorney General the necessary powers to prosecute Medicaid fraud.

    --Cuts the Stem Cell and Innovation Fund proposal in half: The Senate shrinks necessary research and economic development money from $2.1 billion over 11 yrs to $1 billion over 10 yrs.

    --Does not make HMOs pay their fair share: The Senate eliminates the covered lives assessment that would have redistributed $75 million from HMOs to primary and preventive health care investments.

    --Cuts $2.6 million funding for long-term care reform: The Senate cuts funding for long-term care reform, which would make it easier for families to access long-term care services
3-15-07

© 2007 North Country Gazette

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