Housing Works Praises Health, Welfare Reforms in Gov. Paterson’s 2009 Budget
New York, NY (December 16, 2008)—Housing Works announced today its support for the health and welfare reforms included in Governor David Paterson’s proposed 2009-2010 State budget.
The budget’s proposed Medicaid savings and long overdue increase to the State’s basic welfare grant demonstrated the Governor’s commitment to the health and welfare of New York’s poorest citizens.
The executive budget includes $3.5 billion in Medicaid savings for 2009-2010 that will direct much-needed Medicaid dollars away from hospitals and toward front-line community care, greatly expanding access to health care for New York’s neediest.
“This kind of bold approach to Medicaid reform is absolutely critical in the midst of today’s financial crisis,” said Housing Works President and CEO Charles King. “The Governor’s budget is the best preparation for the growing health care needs of New York’s poor, and of course, New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS.”
Between 60,000 and 70,000 New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS depend on Medicaid for health care. More than 100,000 New Yorkers are living with HIV/AIDS, nearly 10 percent of the U.S. total.
The Governor’s proposed budget also asked for the first increase to the basic welfare grant since 1990, which would begin to address one of the most appalling injustices of New York State welfare policies. While the increase ought to be larger, the Governor’s request would provide essential cushion for those on the lowest rung of the State’s economic ladder.
The basic monthly welfare grant has remained at $291 for a family of three ($3,492 per year) since 1990 despite 65 percent inflation in the intervening years. Approximately 200,000 households will benefit from this increase. “I can think of no better way to begin shoring up the State’s safety net for its poor than increasing the public assistance grant,” King said.
Housing Works was still analyzing the Governor’s proposed cuts to the Department of Health but adamantly opposed proposed Social Services cuts to job training for low-income people living with HIV/AIDS. A major Housing Works protest, at which 12 courageous activists were arrested, helped stave off cuts to job training in April.
For more information on Housing Works response to the Governor’s budget, contact David Thorpe at thorpe@housingworks.org or 646-210-1805.
Posted on December 16, 2008 at 11:27 pm
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