Protect Medicaid Campaign issues statement on final MRT meeting

Statement from the Protect Medicaid Campaign, a coalition of 130+ health advocacy organizations across New York:
“New York’s investment in Medicaid has built the system Governor Cuomo is relying on to have such a strong response to the COVID-19 pandemic right now. Draconian cuts to eligibility, services, and funding will only worsen the capacity crisis we are facing when it comes to caring for the sick, elderly and disabled. The proposals advanced by the MRT today will harm Medicaid recipients by eliminating critical home care services for those who need it, pushing those with significant mental health needs and chronic medical conditions out of health homes, and cutting New York’s safety net hospitals like the New York City Health and Hospitals. These proposals directly contradict the Governor’s own words from his budget address, where he said that the MRT process would do no harm to Medicaid recipients. By pushing these budget cuts with almost no details, the state will do the exact opposite and create more barriers to life-saving care. At a time when it is increasingly unclear what the need for Medicaid will look like in the future, even after the pandemic has subsided, these cuts to Medicaid are irresponsible and unjustifiable, and hurt our safety net, and those most vulnerable to the disease.”