Housing Works Applauds Gov. Paterson’s Commitment to Combating AIDS in 2009-2010 Budget
New York, NY (December 18)—Housing Works today reiterated its strong support of Governor David Paterson’s 2009-2010 New York State budget. The budget shows Paterson’s unwavering commitment to combating AIDS in New York State, as well as to protecting key health care, welfare and nutrition programs for all low-income New Yorkers.
The executive budget allocates $3.5 billion dollars for programs that fight New York’s AIDS epidemic, including $125 million for the AIDS Institute. Paterson’s steadfast commitment to fighting AIDS will allow the State to remain a national leader in initiatives that respond to ever-shifting HIV-infection demographics, provide long-term care, reduce discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS, and guarantee basic medical care and treatment for the uninsured.
In a smart allocation of resources, the State is able to use a $65 million surplus in drug reimbursements to supplement New York’s portion of the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. This change is for FY’09-10 only and would allow the AIDS Institute to forgo any new cuts, while still maintaining life-saving medication for all New Yorkers with AIDS. The budget supports full restoration of the State’s share of ADAP funding FY’ 10-11.
The Governor also protected health, welfare and nutrition programs in the budget that serve as an essential barrier between New York’s poor and inhuman destitution. Those protections include:
• Continued support for health care reforms that will enhance investment in primary and outpatient care. Those reforms include inpatient reimbursement reform and additional ambulatory care investments to increase physician/practitioner fees, augment hospital, community, mental hygiene and substance abuse clinic rates and support other primary care enhancements.
•The first increase in the State’s basic welfare grant since 1990. The Governor’s request would provide essential cushion for those on the lowest rung of the State’s economic ladder.
•A two-year $650 million increased in funding for HEAL NY (The Healthcare Efficiency and Affordability Law) that brings the total investment in this program to $1.7 billion. HEAL supports healthcare projects to upgrade information and healthcare technology, enhance the efficiency of facility operations and support facility improvement, reconfiguration and consolidation.
• $4.4 million for food bank programs, an urgently needed increase in the face of the State’s ballooning hunger needs in these trying economic times.
For more information on Housing Works’ response to the Governor’s budget, contact David Thorpe at thorpe@housingworks.org or 646-210-1805.
HOUSING WORKS is the largest community-based AIDS service organization in the United States, as well as the nation’s largest minority-controlled AIDS service organization. Since our founding in 1990, we have provided lifesaving services, such as housing, medical and mental health care, meals, job training, drug treatment, HIV prevention education, and social support to more than 20,000 homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with HIV and AIDS.
Posted on December 18, 2008 at 10:44 pm
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