Medicaid

AIDS agency to offer services for patients with other chronic diseases

Ellen Abbott — Thu, 30 May 2013 09:25:00 +0000

The agency that has helped victims of HIV/AIDS for the past 30 years in central New York will soon be taking on a new responsibility. AIDS Community Resources will be a foot soldier in a revamped Medicaid system in New York state.

In the next month or so, ARC will begin offering case management services for Medicaid eligible individuals who don't necessarily have AIDS, but who have any chronic health issue.

It'll mean a name change for AIDS Community Resources, but more importantly, Executive Director Michael Crinnen says it will allow the agency do what it does best -- coordinate care for sufferers of a chronic disease, and hopefully keeping them out of the emergency room.

Privatizing aged care is controversial, as counties feel the financial pinch

Kate O'Connell — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:02:46 +0000

The Civil Service Employees Association, or CSEA, is currently involved in several law suits across New York state with counties, including Onondaga County, that are trying to get out of the business of running nursing homes. Now Ontario County may now face legal action from the union over its decision to put its county-run nursing home on the market.

Despite agreement, budget talks go on

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:52:19 +0000

Even though state lawmakers announced a budget agreement Wednesday, they spent the day Thursday trying to pin down details and print the bills in time to be through over the weekend.

Deaths from Alzheimer's disease increasing in the region

Ellen Abbott — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:13:53 +0000

More and more people across the country are dying from Alzheimer's disease -- and central New York is not immune to the trend.

Area state senator wants Medicaid reform

Ellen Abbott — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 21:14:08 +0000

No state spends more on Medicaid than New York, earning it the nickname of the Cadillac of Medicaid programs. But that may soon end. One of the reasons the state spends $54 billion a years on the federal health care program for the poor, are 31 optional services that the state can sign on for -- ranging from transportation, to prescription drugs, to private nurses.

Disabled lobby for funding restoration

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:11:10 +0000

One of the areas of disagreement in the state budget centers on funding for services for New York’s developmentally disabled people.

Cuomo, lawmakers meet on budget

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 09:44:00 +0000

With just three weeks and one day to go before a state budget deadline, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders met to assess how far they have to go to reach a deal.

Cuomo to make budget changes with 30-day amendments

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 20:48:20 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he will make several changes to his budget using 30 day amendments, including imposing a teacher evaluation plan on New York City, and cutting the cost of hunting licenses.

Some hospitals worry as Affordable Care Act becomes reality

Ellen Abbott — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 20:19:52 +0000

Some of the larger hospitals in New York state are worried about one aspect of the Affordable Care Act: academic medical centers are slated to lose millions of dollars in a particular kind of Medicaid payment over the next few years.

New Medicaid program aims to cut costs, improve care

Ellen Abbott — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 10:59:00 +0000

New York state's attack on ballooning Medicaid costs has started with a program that offers coordinated care for certain Medicaid patients. State Medicaid Director Jason Helgerson says the program called Health Homes, is aimed at the people who have the most complex Medicaid charts.

State says Medicaid waiver will "transform" New York's health care

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 14:07:38 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo’s aides announced Monday they are asking the federal government for a Medicaid waiver that they say will help make the state a “national model” for health care.