March 2011 mailing

Monday, March 7^th is the next CPHS membership meeting! We are meeting at the Urban Justice Center, 123 William Street, 16^th floor- at 6:30 p.m. Our guest speakers will be our own Judy Wessler and Alyssa Aguilera from New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI). At the February meeting, CPHS members discussed the governor's Medicaid Redesign Team and the disastrous consequences the potential cuts to Medicaid will have on low-income and vulnerable communities. There was an overwhelming consensus: It's time to organize. Judy and Alyssa will describe their recent organizing efforts around Cuomo's MRT and with the Save Our Safety-Net Campaign (SOS-C) and how you can participate.

The Medicaid Redesign Team faces the difficult task of "slashing" Medicaid. If they are unable to find $2.85 billion in immediate savings, their proposals will be rejected and the governor will proceed to cut Medicaid as he wishes. So far, the MRT has held public hearings for community/consumer input. Many concerned organizations, community representatives and individuals came out, to speak out. They, including CPHS, shared their knowledge of how Medicaid is a lifeline for many New Yorkers. We gave responsible proposals that wouldn't hurt lives and have savings. The Save Our Safety-Net Campaign and many others spoke out on the need to safeguard safety-net hospitals and providers. You can watch a video of some testimonies here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEnQ-JuABUw. Testimonies were collected at these hearings and online. At the end, Medicaid Director, Jason Helgerson said he had collected over 3000 ideas.

However- if you go to the website and look at the 49 proposals they chose http://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/, you'll see that community and consumer comments are not included! There is no mention of language or cultural competence. There is nothing about racial and ethnic disparities. Instead of preserving safety-nets to control costs of ambulatory hospitalizations and ER visits, there is a proposal to help close, consolidate or merge safety-net providers that are in trouble. There is a recommendation to eliminate Charity Care funding to Diagnostic and Treatment Centers.

Included in your mailing, is a postcard to Governor Cuomo. Please fill it out, stamp it and mail it before April 1^st. Medicaid Redesign Team meetings are on February 24^th, February 25^th and March 1^st. CPHS intends to have a presence at these meetings and try to impact them as much as possible. Come to the March 7^th membership meeting so we can get your ideas on possible actions and organizing. At the last membership meeting, members proposed launching a You-tube campaign, postcards, a one-pager on revenue raising proposals and possibly, demonstrations. Spread the word and don't let Governor Cuomo hurt our health care!

cphs*     
          *Putting the public back in public health

news