Medicaid Matters

February 1, 2004

Finding a Better Way: Ten consumer-friendly ideas to improve New York’s Medicaid program and save money for New York taxpayers

Medicaid is a New York success story.  It is the largest payer for births in our state,anintegral part of the health care of children and adolescents,and the primary source forlong-term care coverage for New York’s elderly,disabled,and chronically ill.  Medicaidis vital to the health care of all New Yorkersof all ages.  Medicaid is also important to New York’s economy,supporting thousands of jobs in the health care sector.

This year the debate about the rising cost of Medicaid is at a fever pitch in Albany and incounties around the state.  The release of theSenate Medicaid Reform Task Force reportand the Governor’s proposed ExecutiveBudget make it clear that concerns about therising cost of Medicaid and what this meansfor state and local governments—and for taxpayers—are being taken very seriously.  MMNY supports some of the proposals thathave been advanced by both the Senate’s TaskForce and by the Governor, including makinggreater use of disease management programswithin existing public insurance programs.MMNY also supports a Family Health Plus(FHPlus) buy-in.