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The thrill of seeing an on-time state budget is quickly fading as budget details emerge.
ALBANY --
Most of the budget blowback surrounds education cuts, but there are a few other areas that have raised hackles as well. Such as the Neurologically Impaired Infant Fund.
Said Assemblyman Richard Gottfried. Chairman, Assembly Health Committee, "I think it's a benefit to all sides."
NIIF compensates families with infants hurt during the delivery process. It will save hospitals & physicians money by paying out only what families need when they need it, rather than providing families with a single up-front payment…
Gottfried, who sits on the Governor's Medicaid Redesign Team was an early critic of several recommendations, saying they were tilted in favor of hospitals and doctors over that of patients. It’s a criticism that has also dogged the new Health Commissioner as he makes his first tour of the state as a representative of Governor Cuomo’s cabinet.
Dr. Nirav Shah, NYS Health Commissioner said, "So the question was, is it more fair to hospitals than to patients. Well, costs was one of the drivers of how we save money for the system under the MRT proposals."
Another medical malpractice reform recommended by the MRT didn't pass muster with the Legislature: A hospital backed $250,000 cap on pain and suffering.
You could say that about the entire budget. As the pain from this spending plan becomes more evident, look for a renewed push for a Millionaire's Tax in Albany.
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