IHA President Issues Statement on Governor Cuomo's Creation of Medicaid Redesign Team

Iroquois Region Unified in Support of Reforming Medicaid Program

CLIFTON PARK, NY (01/05/2011)(readMedia)-- As part of his first State of the State address, Governor Andrew Cuomo today recommended the creation of a Medicaid redesign team. The team is tasked with finding ways to save money within the Medicaid program and provide recommendations to the Governor by March 1 for consideration in the budget process.

"We are pleased that the Governor is serious about reviewing the Medicaid program as a whole," stated Gary J. Fitzgerald, president of the Iroquois Healthcare Alliance. "The historical State budget process of simply cutting Medicaid reimbursement rates has been making it exceedingly difficult for Upstate hospitals to continue to provide quality health care." Fitzgerald continued on to say, "The disparities in the Medicaid program, including significant differences in the amount of money spent per Medicaid recipient on personal care in New York City compared to Upstate, need to be considered."

Given the State's deficit and the complexity of the Medicaid program, hospitals are willing to assist in reforming Medicaid and reducing state and local Medicaid costs for the benefit of all New Yorkers.

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Note: The Iroquois Healthcare Alliance is a regional trade association representing 57 hospitals and health systems in 31 upstate counties in New York.