Skelos, Alfano & Barra Blast Spitzer’s Proposed Cuts To Long Island Nursing Home

“It’s disturbing that Governor Spitzer would again propose cutting state funding for our local nursing homes,” said Senator Skelos. “We have an obligation to protect our seniors and their quality-of-life. During this year’s budget negotiations, I will continue fighting against the Governor’s cuts to ensure that our local health care system remains strong.”

“This is just another example of bad decisions being made in health care by the Governor,” said Assemblyman Alfano. “There is absolutely no way I will allow our state budget to be balanced on the backs of senior citizens who have served our country and built our communities. How we treat our seniors is a direct reflection of us as a community and state. The Governor’s cuts fail that test and I will fight him every step of the way.”

“Cutting money for nursing homes is not the way to go,” said Assemblyman Barra. “We’ll have some budget fight on our hands until this travesty is dropped and full-funding is restored. Governor Spitzer is making yet another error in judgment.”

Governor Spitzer’s proposed 2008-09 state budget cuts state funding for nursing homes within legislators’ districts by about $2,716,000. The proposed Executive Budget will cut:

• Garden Care Center in Franklin Square by $129,000 and The Orzac Center for Extended Care and Rehabilitation on Franklin Avenue in Valley Stream by $192,000.
• The East Rockaway Progressive Care Facility on Atlantic Avenue in Lynbrook by $165,000;
• The Rockville Nursing Center, Inc. on Maine Avenue in Rockville Centre by $242,000;
• The Woodmere Rehabilitation and Health Care Center on Franklin Place in Woodmere by $157,000;
• The Bayview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Inc. on Long Beach Road in Island Park and the Oceanside Care Center on Lincoln Avenue in Oceanside by $223,000 and $52,000, respectively;
• And $210,000 for Beach Terrace Care Center, $148,000 for the Grandell Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, $738,000 for the Park Avenue Extended Care Center and $460,000 for The Komanoff Center for Geriatric and Rehabilitative Medicine.

This is the second consecutive year that Governor Spitzer has proposed state funding cuts for these critically important facilities. Last year, the Governor’s budget plan cut $11,642,206 in state funding for the nursing homes:

• The Garden Care Center by $957,117 and The Orzac Center by $2,027,470
• The East Rockaway Progressive Care Facility on Atlantic Avenue in Lynbrook by $486,827;
• The Rockville Nursing Center, Inc. on Maine Avenue in Rockville Centre by $652,595; the Woodmere Rehabilitation and Health Care Center on Franklin Place in Woodmere by $1,025,836;
• The Bayview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Inc. on Long Beach Road in Island Park and the Oceanside Care Center on Lincoln Avenue in Oceanside by $517,248 and $575,114, respectively;
• And a combined $5.4 million for Beach Terrace Care Center, the Grandell Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, the Park Avenue Extended Care Center and The Komanoff Center for Geriatric and Rehabilitative Medicine.
After the Senate and Assembly each rejected Governor Spitzer’s proposed health care cuts last year, the final state budget restored $8,269,587 which although was not a full restoration, it replaced a significant amount of funding going to our seniors in these homes.

The State Legislature must pass a new state budget for 2008-09 by March 31st.