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Legacy Doc ID# 14401701

NEWS RELEASE

For Release: Immediate January 31, 2007

Daniel Curran 518-449-2707, ext. 124 518-346-2615 (cell)

NYAHSA Says Proposed Medicaid Cuts May Threaten
Access of New Yorkers to Patient-Centered Care;
Proposals Undermine Reform, Not Stimulate It

(ALBANY, NY) - Officials representing New York’s nursing homes, senior housing and community-based service providers today cautioned that proposed state budget cuts could in fact limit the access of New Yorkers to patient-centered care and could be called “patient-targeted” cuts.

“Medicaid cuts sound great in theory but the cuts proposed today are counterproductive to the governor’s announced goal of creating a more patient-centered system and threaten to undo reforms already underway,” said Carl S. Young, president of the New York Association of Homes & Services for the Aging. “If you limit the financial resources available to providers seeking to transition to a new system you are essentially limiting the ability of consumers to access that system.”

“NYAHSA’s members – the not-for-profit, mission-driven and publicly sponsored providers in the state – have spent too many years dealing with tough financial times to absorb any new cuts on top of the $1 billion plus cuts of the last decade,” said Young. “Medicaid cuts like those in the proposed state budget threaten quality and access for all New Yorkers – not just Medicaid recipients – who need long term care services.”

“We are deeply concerned about workforce funding cuts for nursing homes at a time when we are struggling with shortages of qualified nurses and certified nurse aides,” noted Young. “We need to make it possible for more people to enter the field, not less.”

“Our members are community based, locally run and exist solely to provide care focused on an individual’s needs,” continued Young. “Patient-centered care is what our members have been committing themselves to for decades.

“We applaud the governor for his support of home and community based services as well as provider-based managed long term care programs,” stated Young. “Many of our members have recognized the changing tastes of consumers and have grown beyond the traditional nursing home program to offer varied, additional services.”

“Not withstanding our sharp differences on the state budget proposals, we look forward to working with the Spitzer Administration as it seeks to create a health care system beneficial to all New Yorkers,” concluded Young.

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Founded in 1961, the New York Association of Homes and Services for the Aging is the only statewide organization representing the entire continuum of not-for-profit, mission-driven and public continuing care, including nursing homes, senior housing, adult care facilities, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living providers, and community service providers. NYAHSA’s more than 600 members employing more than 94,000 professionals statewide serve an estimated 500,000 New Yorkers of all ages annually