In light of massive potential changes to Medicaid from the Bush Administration, New York’s governor (of the only other state in the union with local Medicaid costs) said the following:
“I will propose Medicaid reforms that will reduce costs and also protect county property taxpayers, while ensuring the quality of health care we all deserve,” he said. “Let this be the year we get it done.”
In New York, Medicaid eats up 44% of the state budget at $44 billion dollars and covers 3 million folks. Of interest is the fact that is has increased by over 46% in the last five years. Counties are also decrying the increase as local property taxes (as in NC) are being paid into Medicad.
NC is in a similar situation, albeit on a smaller scale, but our Governor has been oddly silent about this serious state/local issue. Guess he’s been too busy giving the state to Dell with a special session rather than deal with the multi-billion dollar Medicaid problem.
