Senator Gallivan’s Statement Regarding The Medicaid Redesign Team’s Initial Recommendations

“It ‘s encouraging to hear some details from the Governor’s office regarding his intentions on how to reform the Medicaid system and control its costs. While many of the Medicaid Redesign Team’s 79 recommendations are still unknown, the few included in the Governor’s briefing are promising. Primary among them; instituting a global cap on state Medicaid spending, addressing long-needed reform to medical malpractice statutes, and placing emphasis on patient centered medical facilities.

However, I urge the Governor to consider the local municipal Medicaid opt-out proposal recently passed in the Senate Social Services Committee. This proposal offers realistic solutions by granting greater flexibility to local governments in choosing what optional benefits they believe are best suited to meet the health care needs of their residents. I look forward to being an engaged partner with Governor Cuomo and the Medicaid Redesign Team to deliver a Medicaid system that provides world class health services to the New Yorkers who depend on them, while respecting the taxpayers who provide them.”