Paterson Reacts to the Health Care Vote
December 24th, 2009
Today the Senate passed it’s health care reform bill along partisan lines. Gov. David Paterson, despite assurances from Rep. Charlie Rangel , is worried that the bill will add to New York’s growing budget deficit and hurt health care providers. Here is a statement from Paterson:
“Today the Senate passed a landmark health care reform bill, an historic accomplishment in the long-standing effort to improve the health care system to better serve more Americans. This bill, and the version passed earlier this month in the House of Representatives, make important progress for the 2.5 million uninsured New Yorkers and for uninsured Americans in every state.
“However, I am deeply troubled that the Senate version of the bill worsens what was already an inequitable situation for New York and I will continue to be an advocate on behalf of New Yorkers to ensure we are treated fairly by this critical federal legislation. The Senate bill adds close to an additional $ 1 billion annually in new State Medicaid costs to New York. This could result in a 15 percent reduction in payments to providers, meaning hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies and community clinics could ultimately face these reductions because of strained State and City budgets.
“To avoid this outcome, the House and Senate must convene a real Conference Committee to fairly merge these bills and allow our delegation to fight for equitable legislation for New York State.”
To see what other prominent New Yorkers think health care reform will mean to the state, check out these editorials and our Health Topic Page.
By David King on December 24, 2009, 1:28 pmIn category: Albany, Eye on Albany, Health | 1 Comment »



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December 28th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Everyone simply needs to move to Nebraska!