February 23, 2007
SPITZER CLEANS UP
 |
His Medicaid budget protects beneficiaries |
New York Governor Eliot Spitzer finalized his executive budget proposals Wednesday, issuing a set of "21-day amendments" to the big budget he proposed on January 31.
The highlight: Spitzer withdrew his proposed cuts to 'Level One' personal care services for low-income women, men and children with disabilities who need extra help at home to stay independent.
The result: Absolutely no Medicaid cuts in the Spitzer budget aimed at Medicaid beneficiaries.
That's right—not one of the proposed cuts in Medicaid spending would reduce or eliminate services to people with Medicaid cards in their pockets.
During the Pataki era, hundreds of millions in consumer cuts were proposed each year, including elimination of services, increased co-pays and increased barriers to access.
In contrast, Spitzer has proposed initiatives and to provide coverage to 1.2 million children and adults who don't have health care now.
Spitzer's 'cuts' — they're actually reductions in the rate of spending increases — are instead aimed at institutions: HMOs, hospitals and nursing homes. And they're designed to move funding and subsidies towards those institutions that are serving high numbers of Medicaid beneficiaries.
The predictable political backlash to Spitzer's smart, targeted reforms began this week: monster union 1199/SEIU and the deep-pocketed Greater New York Healthcare Association reached into their $65 million war chest to fund TV ads that misrepresent Spitzer's proposals and try to fool the public about their impact.
Housing Works salutes Spitzer for shielding the low-income and disabled New Yorkers who need Medicaid to survive from cuts that could jeopardize their care.
And we'll fight hard — with many allies in the consumer and disability advocacy communities — against the misrepresentations of powerful healthcare industry players who want Spitzer to fail.
For more information, or to hook up with Medicaid Matters, the statewide Medicaid consumer and advocacy coalition, email Charles Long at long2@housingworks.org.