New York’s Medicaid program covers over 5 million people and supports the health care safety net that serves them.  The 2012-2013 state budget must reflect a commitment to keeping Medicaid strong.

People who rely on Medicaid need:

Ø  Charity care funding that pays for care for the uninsured

·        So, the budget must enact reform to hospital charity care funding, as well as enforcement of the Hospital Financial Assistance Law

Ø  Protection in Medicaid managed care

·        So, the budget must enact real consumer protections in the implementation of Managed Long Term Care, as well as in the managed care pharmacy benefit

Ø  Protection from impoverishment to access long term services

·        So, the budget must reject the proposal to eliminate spousal and parental refusal

Ø  Health equity

·        So, the budget must enact recommendations of the MRT Health Disparities Workgroup, including accessible prescriptions, coverage for harm reduction, maternal and child health initiatives, and data collection and reporting

Ø  Access to affordable insurance coverage under Federal health reform

·        So, the budget must create a Health Insurance Exchange

Ø  Access to essential benefits