Fwd: [RD] Senior Action On-Line News from Albany

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In a message dated 02/09/2004 11:06:37 AM Eastern Standard Time, lhoffman@... writes:

----- Original Message -----From:Swnys@...To:newsletter@...Sent: Friday, January 30, 2004 4:50 PMSubject: [Newsletter] SENIOR ACTION ON-LINE NEWSSenior Action On-Line News from AlbanyFriday, January 31, 2004State Budget May Be Close to On Time This YearThere are unusual signs in Albany that the State Legislature will either pass an on-time budget by April 1st or that a budget agreement will be announcedby then and passed shortly thereafter. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader ph Bruno indicate that is their intent and theyhave accelerated the hearing schedule on the state budget. They have also both announced plans to work together to pass budget reform legislation thatwould guide the process in the future in a way that would make budgets more timely. The Assembly is pushing for an independent budget office that wouldissue non-partisan financial reports and analysis. Bruno and Silver seem likely to use a conference committee to negotiate their differences, a big stepforward.It seems a pattern is developing that the budget gets passed relatively early in election years while taking months longer in non-election years.Governor's Proposed Budget Comes Under Attackfrom Coallition of Medicaid Beneficiaries and AdvocatesMedicaid Matters New York (MMNY), a statewide coalition that advocates on behalf of Medicaid beneficiaries, called for state lawmakers to oppose the Governor'sproposed budget cuts to Medicaid. The Governor's proposal calls for a combined $1.5 billion in reductions to New York's safety net health care program,with all of the cuts affecting New Yorkers who are most in need of quality, comprehensive health care."The Governor's budget rips apart the health care safety net that millions of New Yorkers rely on for their preventative care, prescription drugs, and intensivehealth care needs," said Caruso, coordinator of Medicaid Matters New York.Trilby deJung, a member of MMNY added, "The needs of consumers, and their reliance on Medicaid, can't be ignored by the Governor. We are here to remindGovernor Pataki that these cuts are not just budget figures. They represent real people, with real health care needs. State leaders need to listen to whyMedicaid matters to them."The cuts proposed by the Governor affect all of the 3 million New Yorkers who turn to Medicaid for their health care, including kids, parents, seniors,people with serious illnesses, and those with disabilities.Antoine Harkless, a 44-year-old Medicaid consumer from New York City who has a chronic illness and is in Albany opposing the budget cuts said, "Medicaidkeeps me healthy, so I am able to take care of my mother, who is battling cancer. Medicaid is a lifeline to my health care, and is helping me reach mymain goal, which is to return to the workforce and be a more productive member of society. The cuts I am hearing about would set me back, and politiciansshould find other ways to balance the budget."Todd Vaarwerk, a 36-year-old Buffalo resident who is the disability rights advocate at the Western New York Independent Living Project, said, "I am a productof a strong and comprehensive Medicaid program. Without essential Medicaid services and benefits to help manage my cerebral palsy, including home healthcare and durable medical equipment, I would not be able to work, pay taxes, or participate in the community in which I am happy to live. For people withdisabilities, no benefits are ‘optional'. Our state leaders need to understand that cuts to Medicaid will not just affect our health care, but all aspectsof our lives."Specifically, Medicaid Matters New York is concerned about the following proposals put forward by Governor Pataki:- Elimination of dental and vision benefits in Family Health Plus, and imposing an assets test and co-payments. These changes will make it even harder forlow-income New Yorkers to get quality, comprehensive health care.- Elimination of "optional" services in Medicaid, including those provided by nurses, dentists, and psychologists. These benefits are essential for peoplewho need primary, dental, and mental health care.- Increased co-payments for prescription drugs in Medicaid, which has been proven to deter beneficiaries from filling prescriptions altogether.- Shifting children from Medicaid to Child Health Plus, which will provide less comprehensive coverage for kids with the most severe disabilities.- Forcing spouses of the elderly and families of the disabled to impoverish themselves in order to become eligible for Medicaid long term care.-Elimination of funding for community-based facilitated enrollment for Family Health Plus and cuts in funding for facilitated enrollment for Child HealthPlus.- Creation of a preferred drug program without specific consumer protections that will allow consumers to get the drugs they need to stay alive.-Encouraging SSI beneficiaries, who are the sickest New Yorkers, to enroll in Medicaid managed care plans.- Public health cuts and restrictions to New York's Early Intervention program.Medicaid Matters New York (MMNY) is a consumer-oriented coalition that advocates on behalf ofof New York's Medicaid program and the people it serves. Thisstatewide coalition of over 100 local and statewide organizations is founded on the premise recognizes that "Medicaid matters" and reform proposals thatresult in dramatic cuts at the federal or the state and federal levels will adversely affect us all New Yorkers.MMNY represents and speaks for the 3 million people in the range of populations that rely on Medicaid for their health insurance, including moms and kids,adolescents, the working poor, the disabled, seniors, HIV positive individuals, the homeless, and individuals with mental disabilities. While many coalitionsexist that advocate on behalf of providers, MMNY's uniqueness is that it is perhaps the only organized, statewide coalition that speaks solely for MedicaidbeneficiariesNew York City Hearing on Prescription Drug Prices,Re-importation and Safety to be on ThursdayStateWide's New York City coordinator Lani Sanjek will testify at the second hearing on prescription drug issues next week sponsored by the Senate StandingCommittee on Aging and the Senate Committee on Investigations and Government Operations. It will be held on February 5th at 9:30 at the Senate MajorityHearing Room, 21st Floor, 250 Broadway. Others scheduled to speak are Westchester County Executive Spano, the regional director of the FDA, of JPAC, Suleika Cabrera Drinane of the Institute for Puerto Rican and Hispanic Elderly, Bill Ferris of AARP and a representative of PHARMA and perhaps some other health care providers.Big Westchester Medicare Forum Set forNext Friday, February 6thWestchester County Legislator and senior advocate Bernice Spreckman is hosting a big forum on the Medicare drug bill on Friday, February 6th at the CountyLegislature chambers in White Plains on e Street. This forum is for seniors in Westchester and surrounding counties. Lani Sanjek of StateWide will join Bernice in making the presentation. Petitions will be circulated to federal officials urging the negotiation of drug prices by Medicare and anotherto state legislators telling them to leave EPIC alone and not make participation in the Medicare drug plan mandatory. Reply by e-mail if you would likemore information.a note from Mike Burgess....Medicare Law to Cost $540 BillionNow, we have the shocking news that the Medicare law will cost $540 billion over ten years instead of the $400 billion we were told. So, once again ourCongress acted with false information. Remember how a whole group of conservatives agreed to support the bill only if it cost no more than $400 billion.Remember how the House leadership kept open the vote for three hours during the night because they couldn't find the votes to pass it. Without them, thebill would have died in the House. What we have here is more lying or distorting or cooking the books for political purposes - all to ram this bill throughCongress. The Congressional leadership should be ashamed. Was it deliberate? I think we have a bunch of people running Washington who believe the endsjustify the means. The Medicare law is unpopular and now it is tainted with more controversy. The bill should be repealed, the tax cuts for the wealthyshould be repealed and we should start over with a better benefit and negotiated drug prices.