Cuomo Says Major Budget Changes May Be Needed If New York Loses $2B In Health Care Funding
By GLenn Blain NY Daily News September 26, 2017
ALBANY – Gov. Cuomo said a special session of the state Legislature may be needed if more than $2 billion in federal health care cuts to New York are allowed to take effect on Oct. 1.
Cuomo said the looming cuts, which are called for under the Affordable Care Act, could require lawmakers to make drastic changes in the state’s already-adopted budget.
“If we lose $2 billion on Oct. 1 from the federal government, the budget is gone,” Cuomo told a gathering of The Business Council of New York State. “Throw it out the window.”
New York stands to lose $2.6 billion in funding from the federal Disproportionate Share Hospital program, which goes to hospitals that take care of the uninsured.
The Affordable Care Act, which created Obamacare, mandated that the DSH program be reduced by $43 billion, with the cuts initially slated to begin in 2014. Congress later delayed the start of the reductions until this year.
New York would take the biggest hit under the planned cuts.
“It is going to affect every hospital in the state,” Cuomo said.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, vowed to fight against the planned cuts.
“Instead of working with us in a bipartisan way to fix flaws and improve health care, the majority is pushing a bill that will drive up premiums, eliminate coverage for millions and hammer our hospitals,” Schumer said. “They should drop this toxic Graham-Cassidy bill, extend the Disproportionate Share payments and work across the aisle to fix health care problems.”
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) and Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan (R-Suffolk County) did not immediately comment on Cuomo’s comments.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/budget-fixes-needed-state-loses-2b-medicaid-funding-cuomo-article-1.3520829