Gov. Andrew Cuomo is aiming to reduce the state’s Medicaid spending by billions of dollars, exceeding the size of cuts to the program proposed in past years, according to individuals with knowledge of his budget.
The Cuomo administration is considering a cut of about $2.1 billion out of the state’s projected spending on Medicaid in the upcoming fiscal year. With federal matching funds, the cut comes to more than $4 billion. That’s close to twice the reduction in spending proposed by Gov. Eliot Spitzer in 2007.
Such a cut would effectively freeze Medicaid spending at the current year’s level. But because the state is set to receive far less in federal funds, as the stimulus expires, its share of Medicaid costs would still grow by more than $3 billion, a 30% increase.
To further alleviate the burden, the Cuomo administration is likely to lobby for more federal aid, possibly through a waiver agreement, according to an individual familiar with the governor’s health-care agenda.
Mr. Cuomo is expected to release his first budget by Feb. 1 and to release some details in his State of the State speech Wednesday.
(Source: WSJ)
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5 Responses
I was shocked to read this in the journal today. If Cuomo really wants to put NY in fiscal order he will have to take on the unions which wield enormous power. If he does I will recant from my previous statements where I doubted he will do anything besides give goodies to his supporters. Lets hope he really does care about New York and not his union backers.
#1, Cuomo has taken on many just causes. He just doesnt take on what you want him to do in the order you prefer.
This battle cry to “take on the unions” is wearing out it’s welcome. Between Dems and GOP, who HAS “taken on the unions”?
Cuomo is one of the few politicians who are working in their position, just like Christie. We may not always like what they do, so that being the case, we can run for office and do a perfect job.
Cuomo is not so bad a Democrat.
There is lots of Medicaid fraud that waits to be uncovered which should save a few hundred million a year.
#2 In the order I prefer? How about the most urgent crisis in the state (and in most other states) underfunded pensions due to the enormous clout unions have. There was a time unions fought for the common person, now they are destroying this country state by state.
#4, I understand people hate unions. I dont know enough to say if they are a horror or not.
But I do know I have heard this cry, “Take on the unions” used as a litmus test from some of those in the GOP because they dont want to give kudos to anyone in the other party.
Frankly, Cuomo, as a politician, is not the worst of the lot out there. I think he may accomplish something in his objective. Eventually, he may “take on the unions”.
Perhaps a candidate you like will also “take on the unions”, since no one has to this point.