HCA Press Release on Governor's Recommended Mid-Cycle Budget Cuts

For Immediate Release:

August 11, 2008

Contact:
Roger L. Noyes (518) 810-0665; (518) 275-6961 cell

Download: HCA Press Release on the Governor's Mid-Cycle Budget Cuts

Statement by HCA President Joanne Cunningham on Governor Paterson's Plan for $90 Million in Home Care Funding Cuts

"Home health care providers certainly understand the great fiscal challenges now confronting our state," Cunningham said. "The State Legislature's support for home health care over the last two years has demonstrated that home health care is part of the solution to improving the cost-effectiveness of the state Medicaid program and enhancing quality care for all New Yorkers."

"However, over $90 million in proposed home health care cuts — factoring both for state and federal matching shares — run counter to the state's position asserted just a few months ago when the Legislature and Governor Paterson restored most of the more than $100 million in devastating funding cuts originally contained in the 2008-09 Executive Budget proposal."

"Any effort to balance the state's finances must not be done on the backs of seniors and disabled New Yorkers who rely on home health care services as a means of maintaining a level of health and independence. These mid-year targeted health care cuts could destabilize New York's fragile home and community-based health care system — a system that is already subject to enormous cost pressures, including the expense of staff recruitment and retention efforts, exorbitant fuel prices for travel to patients' homes, and the costs of treating and managing increasingly complex patient care needs."

"This amounts to double jeopardy for the thousands who are themselves victim to a faltering economy and rely on the Medicaid safety net to obtain vital in-home health care services. New Yorkers simply cannot afford this kind of double hit."

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Committed to the principles of high-quality and cost-effective community based health care, the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) assists its members on state and federal legislation, regulations and reimbursement issues pertinent to the home health field. As the premier home health care association in New York State, HCA represents more than 400 home health care providers, individuals and associate members who collectively provide service and support to thousands of New Yorkers.