On Running Your Own Government, Or, Why Pay The Military?

by: fake consultant

Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 07:15:24 AM EDT

You will hear a lot of conversation about the consequences from others; today, however, you are going to get the chance to be both the President and the Secretary of the Treasury, and you will get to decide for yourself exactly what bills the Federal Government should and should not pay as the cash runs out if a deal is not made by the time borrowing authority runs out.

At that point you'll be able to see what's coming for yourself - and once you do, you won't need me to tell you what ugly is going to look like.

On My Last Weekend, Or, Wanna Save A Few Trillion On Health Care?

by: fake consultant

Sun Jul 24, 2011 at 09:56:21 AM EDT

Instead, I'm going to jump into my own personal life for today's story, and I'm going to do it so that we can stimulate some thinking about where we really need to go to if we ever hope to make some sense out of the crazy way we deliver health care in this country.

Since this appears to be the weekend that a lot of decisions are either going to be made about the future of our "social safety net"...or they wont; we're entirely unsure...let's talk about how it actually works for a lot of us - and how it could work a lot better.

Governor Cuomo Hits One Out of the Park: The Medicaid Reform Panel is Fair and Balanced

by: BingChester

Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 15:01:07 PM EST

Good work, Governor Cuomo.  Over the flip you'll find the members of the committee and their interest affiliation.

Espada is a Medicaid profiteer/tax cheat

by: devtob

Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 01:19:52 AM EDT

Somehow, little gets done, and some Medicaid contractors continue to get richer than ever.

Case in point -- turncoat Democrat Pedro Espada of the Bronx, who has single-handedly thrown a monkey wrench into the state Senate's ability to do basic legislative work.

Espada makes $100K or so from his part-time job screwing up the Senate, but his big money comes from being CEO of the Soundview Health Network in the Bronx, which paid him $460,000 in 2007, according to Jim Odato's story in Thursday's Albany Times Union.

Messy details, below.      

Legislators, HCA Advocates Want FMAP Funding To Go Towards Medicaid

by: robert.harding

Thu Feb 26, 2009 at 10:57:28 AM EST

During home care Advocacy Day, legislative leaders echo HCA's call to apply FMAP funding to offset Medicaid health care cuts, as home care services face a $475 million hit under proposed 2009-10 State Budget

Recognizing the impact of nearly a half-billion dollars in proposed State Budget cuts on patient services, state legislators addressed New York's home care community during HCA's 2009 Advocacy Day on February 25, stressing the importance of New York's home care safety net for the frail elderly, persons with disabilities, the chronically ill, and patients in need of post-acute care.

Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari (D-Cohoes), Senate Health Committee Chairman Tom Duane (D-Manhattan), Assembly Health Committee Chairman Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan), and Senator Craig Johnson (D-Port Washington) all echoed HCA's contention that the $11 billion in Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) money coming to New York under the economic stimulus package recently passed by Congress should be used squarely for the Medicaid program and to offset the home care and other health care cuts contained in Governor Paterson's 2009-10 Executive State Budget proposal.

"We must keep Medicaid dollars for Medicaid programs," Assemblyman Canestrari told home care advocates during HCA's Advocacy Day program.

Assemblyman Canestrari is right: The money coming in for Medicaid should stay with Medicaid. And I hope, along with the many advocates and legislators who have spoken out on this issue, that the money will all go towards Medicaid funding.

The Fight For Federal Medicaid Stimulus Dollars Is On

by: robert.harding

Tue Jan 13, 2009 at 12:28:58 PM EST

The issue here is that the federal government is getting ready to pass a stimulus package that would include $5 billion in Medicaid funding for New York State, according to 12 health care and consumer advocacy groups that united to speak out on this issue. If that Medicaid money were to come to New York, the coalition fears that these monies will be used for "non-health care purposes."

An historic coalition of health care provider and patient advocacy organizations joined together today at the state Capitol to call on the state Legislature to ensure that any increase in federal Medicaid funding is used solely for Medicaid health care services.

The federal government is expected to pass a stimulus package shortly that is anticipated to include up to $5 billion in increased federal Medicaid funding for New York State.  Twelve statewide health care provider and patient advocacy organizations have joined together to protect these health care dollars from being used for non-health care purposes.

Daniel Sisto, President of the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), representing more than 500 hospitals, nursing homes, and home health care providers, said, "Our message is simple and reasonable:  Medicaid dollars should be used for Medicaid services. These anticipated federal funds will be a literal lifeline for patients, residents, and providers across the state.  Medicaid has already been cut twice this fiscal year by more than $1 billion, and now we are staring down the barrel of the Governor's latest budget proposal that includes another $5 billion in health care cuts and taxes over the next two years.

"We need the Legislature to take concrete steps to ensure that the anticipated federal dollars are used to offset these enormous state cuts, and that they are not raided for non-health care purposes," Mr. Sisto said.

If New York receives $5 billion in federal Medicaid stimulus money, that money should go to providing health care services. That shouldn't become money the state uses to decrease the budget deficit.

With the drastic $3.5 billion in health care spending cuts proposed by Governor Paterson, that $5 billion would go a long way. But if it's not used for the right purposes, the health care community in New York will be hit even harder, especially those who are insured by Medicaid.

You can read more reaction from these 12 groups below the fold.

Spitz Does the Talking

by: NYBri

Mon Mar 05, 2007 at 10:41:05 AM EST

In typical fashion, he minces no words:

March 5, 2007 -- IF New York's health-care system were a patient, it would be in critical condition.

His editorial appears to lay out the same argument he presented last Friday at a powerpoint breakfast attended by his adversaries in this Health Care budget battle:

Suddenly a new slide popped up on the giant screen behind Mr. Spitzer on the stage of the Hilton New York ballroom. It said, in huge letters, "Guardians of the Status Quo," and it bore the logos of the two groups, the Greater New York Hospital Association and the union, 1199 S.E.I.U. United Healthcare Workers East, which have joined forces to become one of the most powerful lobbies in Albany.

His editorial is very clear as to who he thinks is to blame for the critical condition of our present Health Care system:

We face this crisis because special interests - not the needs of patients - have guided health-care policy decisions in Albany.

My plan for health-care reform would transform our health care system into one that puts the needs of patients first.

More ...

All in a Day's Work for Team Steamroller

by: NYBri

Sat Mar 03, 2007 at 09:13:01 AM EST

Yesterday was a gloves off day for Gov. Roller. He took on some of the most powerful players in New York politics, Kenneth E. Raske, President of the New York Hospital Association, Dennis Rivera of 1199 S.E.I.U. United Healthcare Workers fame and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, popular mayor of, well, you know.

Let's begin with the early morning round one. This from the Times.

The governor was addressing a Manhattan power breakfast, giving a PowerPoint presentation to an audience that included business executives, civic leaders and former mayors,...

--snip--

Suddenly a new slide popped up on the giant screen behind Mr. Spitzer on the stage of the Hilton New York ballroom. It said, in huge letters, "Guardians of the Status Quo," and it bore the logos of the two groups, the Greater New York Hospital Association and the union, 1199 S.E.I.U. United Healthcare Workers East, which have joined forces to become one of the most powerful lobbies in Albany.

"Now, my good friends at 1199 and Greater New York, I want to put your logos up here just so everybody will know who you are," Mr. Spitzer began,...

I good way to start the day. Going a few warmup rounds face to face with a couple of guys who weren't prepared for the opening jabs.

The health care officials seemed stunned afterward. Kenneth E. Raske, the president of the hospital association, said, "I have never in my professional life seen anything like that."

It begs the question if he's seen anything like it in his private life...

More after the flip.