Senate Budget Makes Smart Investments In Health Care

SENATE BUDGET MAKES SMART INVESTMENTS IN HEALTH CARE

State Senator Robach today outlined the Senate Majority’s budget proposal that restores $482 million in cuts to the state’s health care system and rejects $364 million in new health care taxes proposed in this year’s Executive Budget.

"One of the Senate’s priorities is ensuring every New Yorker has access to quality, affordable health care," said Senator Robach. "We support reform in the health care system, so our system can be more cost-effective and efficient. However, the Executive Budget proposal is too focused on paying the bills, rather than providing care to New Yorkers."

"The Senate’s budget proposal saves taxpayer dollars and at the same time, develops an improved, more efficient system for supporting our hospitals and nursing homes and providing patient care," Senator Robach said. "We are going to negotiate a new budget in a public process and I am going to be fighting for the hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers in my district to ensure that the budget doesn’t negatively impact their ability to care for people in our area."

The Executive Budget included a complicated proposal that would change a hospital reimbursement system that has been in place for more than 25 years, but contains no details on the impact this plan would have on facilities across New York State. The Senate budget ensures that changes to the hospital reimbursement system are accomplished in an open and transparent manner with input from health care providers.

In addition, the Senate’s budget restores $64 million in State funds for hospital inpatient services and restores 50 percent of the trend factor reduction, or $14 million.

The Executive Budget included $160 million in reductions for long term care services, with $117 million affecting nursing homes. It also fails to honor the rebasing commitment made in the 2005-06 State Budget by eliminating $85 million in state funding for nursing homes.

"We recognize how important long term care facilities are in the lives of so many New Yorkers," said Senator Robach. "The Executive Budget would compromise the quality of care at facilities throughout the state. The Senate makes important restorations to ensure that won’t happen."

The Senate budget proposal restores the $85 million for the nursing home rebasing fund and restores 50 percent of the proposed nursing home and home care trend factor reductions, or $34 million. In addition, the Senate budget restores $25 million for home care services.

"As we move forward with the Assembly in an open, public negotiation to come to an agreement on a final budget that meets the needs of all New Yorkers, maintaining access to quality, affordable health care will remain a priority," said Senator Robach.

"The Executive Budget would compromise the quality of care at facilities throughout the state. The Senate makes important restorations to ensure that won’t happen."