Health Budget: Great News for New Yorkers
April 24, 2008
The new 2008-09 health budget, which has been passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor, includes an impressive list of major health reforms and initiatives. This is the best health budget New York has had in many years.
In a groundbreaking – and long-overdue – change, the new budget begins to shift resources from inpatient hospital care to primary, preventative, and other outpatient care. Medicaid payments will increase for community health centers, physician and dentist care, school health centers, family planning clinics, hospital outpatient clinics, and others.
The budget also expands New York’s Child Health Plus program, raising the eligibility level for Child Health Plus from 250% of the poverty level to 400% - making health care for children affordable to more middle-class New Yorkers. Now thousands more children will get health coverage.
There will also be a new prescription drug discount card for some low-income people who have no drug coverage. The discounts will come from the state using its bargaining clout with drug companies, not from taxpayer dollars.
Additionally, under the new budget, New York will offer to repay new doctors’ medical school loans if they practice for five years in an under-served area in primary care or certain shortage specialties – helping to make access to health care a reality for many more New Yorkers.
