February 2011 mailing
The second CPHS membership meeting of 2011 is scheduled for Monday, February 7 at the Urban Justice Center, 123 William Street, 16th floor- at 6:30 p.m.! CPHS members really made January's meeting energized and empowered. Everyone stated their healthcare priorities for 2011 affirmatively, what needs to be fixed and whatwe need to do. Some of the wishes include taking a big, unified action to prevent cuts to our safety net, to involve the community, to be less polite, and gatherclout, just to list a few. We agreed that action must be taken because the problem is immediate and is now on our door step.
Our new governor, Andrew Cuomo, named a "Medicaid Redesign Team" (MRT)to help him cut Medicaid by $2 billion. His 27-member team is made up of only one statewide community organization and has little representation from the public sector. It is primarily dominated by hospitals and is led by two men with ties to large private hospitals. We believe the team will likely vote to cut Medicaid benefits, reduce long-term and primary care services in the community, and slash budgets to safety net providers. We believe the structure of the MRT fails to represent the interests of New Yorkers who rely on Medicaid to protect the health of themselves and their families against cuts to Medicaid that will have a disastrous impact on immigrant populations and communities of color.
The Medicaid Redesign Team has been given only 46 days to hold several meetings and 7 regional hearingsstatewide, collect comments and deliver a proposal by March 1! CPHS was at the first MRT meeting in Albany. We and met with the new State Medicaid Director, Jason Helgerson, and Deputy Secretary of Health, Jim Introne. We raised the importance of preserving the safety net and proposedcost-cutting alternatives that do not hurt New York's low-income, disabled and senior residents. (See attached)But, it is of utmost urgency that we act together to make community and consumer voices a force in this critical decision-making process!
The next Medicaid Redesign Team hearing will be in New York City on Thursday, January 27th. The morning hearing is from 10 am- 1 pm at Baruch College and the afternoon hearing is from 3 pm- 6 pm at Bronx Community College. See attached flyer for more details. Just show up and you will have two (2) minutes to speak.
Not clear that there will be language translation services given. All the more reason to be present! If you need some help preparing, included are some proposals to help frame your message. In addition, CPHS is re-forming the SOS-C, Save Our Safety Net Campaign. The first time SOS-C formed, it was in response to the Berger Commission (or what we call the Hospital Closing Commission) and these times call for necessary action again. An e-mail address has been set up at soscny@gmail.com and so will a list-serve so we can keep you up to date and so you can give your input.
If you are unable to be physically present to voice your concerns and propose ideas to the MRT, you can submit your testimony on the Governor's Medicaid Redesign website www.governor.ny.gov/medicaidredesign. It is only in English and the En Espanol link doesn't work, which leaves out a lot of people.
At the last CPHS meeting, we had decided to call a city-wide Health Forum to get as many bodies and resources to fight for our wishes and priorities. But don't wait until February 7th to fight for our communities! Go to one of the Medicaid Redesign Hearings too and then let us reconvene at February's meeting to strategize next steps! There is much to do quickly!
