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MISSION & HISTORY

Medicaid Matters New York (MMNY) is a statewide, consumer-oriented coalition that advocates on behalf of New York’s Medicaid program and the people it serves.  MMNY includes a diverse set of over 130 organizations united in their determination to ensure that the concerns and needs of Medicaid consumers are understood, included and met in any discussion on the state’s public health insurance programs – Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Family Health Plus.  MMNY is unique in that it is the only organized, statewide coalition that speaks solely for Medicaid beneficiaries.

The founding mission of MMNY has been to ensure that policymakers understand the importance of Medicaid to low-income and medically-vulnerable New Yorkers.  It is the charge of the coalition to ensure Medicaid beneficiaries have a strong voice in Albany where critical issues affecting the future of the Medicaid program are debated. 

MMNY was founded in the winter of 2003 when New York’s Medicaid program was faced with harsh budget cuts proposed by then-Governor Pataki and proposals to block grant the Medicaid program, by President Bush.  For the first years, the advocacy of the coalition was strictly defensive, staving off the worst proposals at both the state and federal levels.

With the election of Governor Spitzer and new leadership in the Department of Health, MMNY’s role changed quite markedly.  As the Spitzer administration began a process of significant Medicaid reform, MMNY was instrumental in keeping the discussion focused on the impact proposed changes would have on those who rely on Medicaid, as well as its companion programs (Family Health Plus and Child Health Plus) for health coverage.  Our efforts have helped assure that Medicaid reform in New York State remains person-centered, and that when Medicaid cuts are necessary, they are not obtained by cuts to beneficiaries.

As Governor Paterson proposes to move further down the road of reforming the way Medicaid reimburses for care and services across all sectors, MMNY remains at the forefront of advocacy efforts to raise concerns about how proposed changes will impact people.