Each Thursday, we put one of our local newsmakers On The Spot.
This week: Assemblyman Robert Oaks
This week's question: Did Medicaid cuts go too far or nor far enough in the 2007-08 New York state budget?
When Governor Eliot Spitzer submitted his 2007-08 state budget in January, it included spending increases at double the rate of inflation. Significant increases were included in almost all areas of the budget, except Medicaid, where dramatic cuts were proposed in reimbursement rates to hospitals and nursing homes.
The final budget, passed on April 1, restored some of the health-care cuts, minimizing the negative impact on our area hospitals and nursing homes. In the final analysis, however, I believe the 2007-08 state budget clearly spends too much. The increase from last year is at approximately triple the rate of inflation. We cannot sustain such increased spending for the long term and the legislature needs to work with the governor to do a better job of restraining state spending.
Rising Medicaid costs and waste, fraud and abuse within the system are very important issues that need to be examined closely in an open and serious manner. Governor Spitzer's budget proposal was only a “quick fix” for cutting and readjusting Medicaid spending, a plan that should not be labeled “reform.”
Medicaid is such a large portion of our state budget and is simply too important to be addressed in last minute, closed-door negotiations as part of a hastily passed state budget. The program needs to be revamped at every level. This is part of my “Road to Reform” plan for the state. We need to reduce the cost of Medicaid to local governments. Currently counties are facing excessive mandates to fund a broken system. One of our proposals would have the state pay for all optional Medicaid services, saving county property taxpayers across the state $10 billion at the end of five years. Another piece to our plan would focus on attacking waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicaid system. In fact, the Assembly Republicans have created a task force to gather information and assess just how much waste, fraud and abuse is costing our state and how it can best be reduced.
Most New Yorkers agree that we spend too much on Medicaid in New York state, more than California and Texas combined. Fixing Medicaid spending in New York, to bring it more in line with other states, will not be easy. It is a challenge, however, that we must face to assure our ability to have the necessary resources to meet other critical needs in our state and to help make our businesses more competitive.
This week's question: Did Medicaid cuts go too far or nor far enough in the 2007-08 New York state budget?
When Governor Eliot Spitzer submitted his 2007-08 state budget in January, it included spending increases at double the rate of inflation. Significant increases were included in almost all areas of the budget, except Medicaid, where dramatic cuts were proposed in reimbursement rates to hospitals and nursing homes.
The final budget, passed on April 1, restored some of the health-care cuts, minimizing the negative impact on our area hospitals and nursing homes. In the final analysis, however, I believe the 2007-08 state budget clearly spends too much. The increase from last year is at approximately triple the rate of inflation. We cannot sustain such increased spending for the long term and the legislature needs to work with the governor to do a better job of restraining state spending.
Rising Medicaid costs and waste, fraud and abuse within the system are very important issues that need to be examined closely in an open and serious manner. Governor Spitzer's budget proposal was only a “quick fix” for cutting and readjusting Medicaid spending, a plan that should not be labeled “reform.”
Medicaid is such a large portion of our state budget and is simply too important to be addressed in last minute, closed-door negotiations as part of a hastily passed state budget. The program needs to be revamped at every level. This is part of my “Road to Reform” plan for the state. We need to reduce the cost of Medicaid to local governments. Currently counties are facing excessive mandates to fund a broken system. One of our proposals would have the state pay for all optional Medicaid services, saving county property taxpayers across the state $10 billion at the end of five years. Another piece to our plan would focus on attacking waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicaid system. In fact, the Assembly Republicans have created a task force to gather information and assess just how much waste, fraud and abuse is costing our state and how it can best be reduced.
Most New Yorkers agree that we spend too much on Medicaid in New York state, more than California and Texas combined. Fixing Medicaid spending in New York, to bring it more in line with other states, will not be easy. It is a challenge, however, that we must face to assure our ability to have the necessary resources to meet other critical needs in our state and to help make our businesses more competitive.
The Citizens' Say
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