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Tuesday, July 8, 2003
Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno today named the members of the Senate Task Force On Medicaid Reform Advisory Panel. The Advisory Panel includes representatives of health care providers, local governments, health care experts and health care employee unions. The bipartisan Task Force, created by Senator Bruno this June, will solicit input and work closely with the members of the Advisory Board as it works to reform and improve the Medicaid system in New York State.
"The members of this advisory panel bring a tremendous wealth of information and depth of perspective that are critical to making this task force a success," said Senator Bruno. "With their input, I am confident that we can establish a long-term vision for Medicaid in this state which will enable us to continue to provide quality, affordable healthcare while protecting taxpayers and local governments from the astronomical increases we have seen in recent years."
"The membership on this advisory panel reflects our intent to receive as much input and analysis as possible from a broad section of the health care community in New York State," Senator Kemp Hannon (R-C, Garden City), Co-Chair of the Medicaid Reform Task Force, said. "I look forward to getting the work of this task force underway and facing the challenge of reforming the Medicaid system."
"Our taxpayers and the State and county budgets they support can no longer sustain the explosive growth in Medicaid," said Senator Meier (R-C, Western), Co-Chair of the Task Force, said. "Our Task Force intends to propose innovative solutions to control costs while preserving the integrity of our health care system. The experience, advice and cooperation of this distinguished advisory board will be critically important to reaching that goal."
In addition to Co-Chairmen Senators Hannon and Meier, the Executive Committee of the Senate Task Force on Medicaid Reform includes Senators James Wright (R-C-I, Watertown), Elizabeth Little (R, Queensbury), Mary Lou Rath (R-C, Williamsville) and Frank Padavan (R-C, Bellerose) and Senate Minority Leader David Paterson. Every member of the Senate Majority Conference will participate as a member of the task force.
Since 1995, Medicaid spending has increased by $17 billion, or 68 percent, to $41.3 billion in SFY 2003-04. Of that $41.3 billion, the State�s share of Medicaid spending is $13.8 billion and the federal share is $21 billion. The additional county share of Medicaid spending is $6.4 billion. The SFY 2003-04 state budget totals $92.8 billion, 38 percent of which is Medicaid spending. The Legislature restored $1 billion in State funding to the existing system this year just to maintain current health care service levels.
The Task Force will focus on the three largest and fastest growing categories of Medicaid spending: long term care, acute care and pharmaceuticals. The panel will hold a series of public hearings, forums and roundtables throughout the State to receive as much input as possible before making recommendations.
An Executive Board of the Advisory Panel will work closely as the Task Force conducts their mission. Members of the Executive Board include:
- Dr. Burt Danovitz, Executive Director of the Resource for Independent Living;
- Michael Dowling, President and CEO of the North Shore L.I.J. Hospital System;
- Craig Duncan, President and CEO of Northeast Health;
- Kathy Jimino, Rensselaer County Executive;
- David Klein, CEO of Excellus
- Paul Macielak, President and CEO New York Health Plan Association;
- Robert Murphy, Executive VP of Governmental Affairs for the NYS Health Facilities Association; - Carol Raphael, CEO of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York;
- Ken Raske, President Greater NY Hospital Association;
- Dr. Jeffrey A. Ribner, President of the Medical Society of the State of New York;
- Dennis Rivera, President 1199 SEIU New York Health;
- Dan Sisto, President HANYS;
- William Steinhaus, President of the NYS Association of Counties; and
- Carl Young, President NYS Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.
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