HANYS’ Board Adopts "Medicaid for Medicaid" Resolution

The HANYS Board of Trustees this morning approved a resolution calling on the Governor and State Legislature to use any new federal Medicaid funds for Medicaid purposes only.

HANYS is leading efforts at the state and federal levels for an increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) as part of the economic stimulus package currently being developed. This would result in billions of Medicaid dollars coming into New York at a time when this funding is needed most. When this increase occurs, HANYS is advocating that FMAP resources must be dedicated to Medicaid as intended, and used to mitigate the Governor’s proposed Medicaid cuts.

The Governor’s 2009-2010 Executive Budget proposal would eliminate more than $2.5 billion in health care funding, with more than $1 billion in hospital cuts alone.

The Board of Governors of Healthcare Trustees of New York State (HTNYS) approved a similar resolution earlier this week. HANYS and HTNYS are encouraging the boards of member facilities to pass a resolution before their January 27 Leadership Advocacy Day, urging the Governor and Legislature to ensure that any additional federal Medicaid dollars be dedicated to health care and to offset the Medicaid cuts and taxes being proposed in the Executive Budget. Contact: Sue Ellen Wagner