News stories tagged with "medicaid"

(02/24/12) As local, state and federal governments are looking for ways to do more with less money, demand for aid and services to the poor is increasing.

That's creating some gaps between government-funded organizations' missions and their means.

In St. Lawrence County, volunteer organizations are stepping in to fill some of those gaps--
And as Nora Flaherty reports, they're doing it by being creative--and harnessing local resources. more

(01/24/12) County leaders around the North Country have been asking the state for mandate relief, especially since New York imposed a 2% property tax cap on local governments last year. Their biggest beef is paying for Medicaid. It accounts for the largest percentage of many county budgets, and many county leaders don't think those costs should be their responsibility.

The governor's budget proposal offers some assistance with local Medicaid costs. The administration has been fanning out around the state, trying to sell the plan he released last week. And Cuomo has gotten some support from north country state legislators. But county leaders aren't as pleased. more

(01/18/12) Gov. Cuomo now turns his spending plan over to the legislature. Some of Albany's most powerful interests are gearing up for a fight. During the address yesterday, Cuomo again took aim at what he calls the status quo in Albany, demonizing some of its most powerful labor unions.

Cuomo admitted the reforms he envisions will be wrenching, but he said the people will be supportive. He called it "the people's agenda."

North Country representatives were generally supportive yesterday. Martha Foley has reaction to Cuomo's proposals on pension reform, relief for county Medicaid costs, and education. more

(10/07/11) On Thursday, Governor Andrew Cuomo rebuffed a push by counties and some state lawmakers to have the state choose the local cost of Medicaid. The health insurance program for the poor costs New York about $53-billion dollars a year. Counties pay roughly 15-percent of that. Cuomo says each level of government needs to pay its share. more

(09/21/11) Under a bill introduced Monday, New York state would begin paying counties' Medicaid costs. Counties statewide could save 7.3 billion dollars. Right now, the low-income healthcare program gets half its money from the federal government; New York state pays 25%; and counties pay 25%. In St. Lawrence county, Medicaid costs the county almost 24 million dollars annually--about 34% of total spending on social services and the largest mandated expense from the state. more

(06/07/11) Yesterday the New York Times ran a front-page investigative story about the way New York state cares for people with developmental disabilities.

A major focus of the article was the Sunmount Developmental Center in Tupper Lake, which cares for some of the state's highest risk and most demanding special-needs clients.

Reporter Danny Hakim wrote that "patterns of abuse appear embedded in the culture of Sunmount." He pointed to four episodes last year where a supervisor was accused of physical and psychological abuse.

Adirondack reporter Brian Mann spoke with Martha Foley about the article and its impact on the debate over Sunmount's future

(03/28/11) Almost a week before the deadline, Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders agreed to a conceptual budget plan yesterday. It cuts spending by nearly $10 billion, and does not raise any new taxes. The leaders scrapped a proposal for a continued tax on the state's millionaires. There are deep cuts to education and health care. Karen Dewitt has the details. more

(02/02/11) Governor Andrew Cuomo delivered the painful news he has been promising yesterday. He released an austere state budget that leaves no aspect of state government untouched. There are deep cuts to schools, health care, the prison and university systems, and the potential for almost 10,000 state worker layoffs. Karen DeWitt reports from Albany and David Sommerstein has reaction from North Country lawmakers.

(01/27/11) Governor Andrew Cuomo is expected to recommend deep cuts to schools, health care and other state services, as he puts together a budget that will try to close a $10 billion dollar deficit. But a new poll finds New Yorkers may not receive that news with open arms. more

(01/25/11) New York State has a new health commissioner. Dr. Nirav Shah previously ran a rural health system in Pennsylvania, and he has a record of reforming large health care systems.

Speaking after his swearing in yesterday, he said his first task is to preside over the organization of the state's most expensive in the nation Medicaid system.
Karen DeWitt reports: more