Albany Update February 3, 2006 Medicaid Program in Governor Pataki’s Proposed Budget Governor Pataki’s SFY 2006-2007 budget contains proposals to cut spending in the Medicaid program by $1.3 billion, providing the majority of the total $1.98 billion in proposed general fund spending restraint for the entire budget. The primary areas of spending cuts include the following: hospitals ($163 million in state savings/$326 million in lost revenue to providers); nursing homes ($232 million in state savings/$300 million in lost revenue to providers); pharmacy programs ($172 million in state savings/$259 million in lost revenue to providers); and an approximately $300 million in state savings related to benefit/services changes. Highlights of the Governor’s proposal include: an effort to provide long term stability for the HCRA pools by dedicating approximately $150 million annually in increased cigarette tax revenues and any funding available from the conversion of not-for-profit health insurers (projected at $900 million in additional revenue for HCRA in SFY 2005-2006 and $750 million in SFY 2007-2008). Additionally, the Governor proposed a five-year, phased implementation of a rebasing of the Medicaid reimbursement methodology for nursing homes that would provide an estimated $670 million of new funding for nursing homes when fully implemented. Also, the Governor projects $150 million in additional savings from Medicaid fraud prevention related to statutory changes and $15 million in new investments in staff and clinical activities. LEGISLATIVE TALLY AS OF FEB 3RD For the 2006 Session : 13,529 bills have been introduced 196 bills have passed the Assembly 46 bills have passed the Senate 5 bills have passed both houses 5 bills have been sent to the Governor 4 bills have been signed by the Governor ( two appropriations bills, one bill dealing with sale and compensating use taxes in Erie County, and one bill concerning the registration of sex offenders). Congratulations to BSJI client: X-Ray Optical Systems Inc Zewu Chen, senior research scientist with our client, X-Ray Optical was named the 2006 Inventor of the Year by the Eastern New York Intellectual Property Law Association, a regional group composed of patent attorneys and agents. X-Ray Optical specializes in producing optics for small measurement systems. FUNDRAISERS Monday, February 6th NYS Senate Republican Campaign Comm. - Albany, $1,000 NYS Assem Republican Conference - Albany, $500 Senator Serphin Maltese [R] - Deputy Majority Whip - Chair –Cities - Albany, $500 Senator George Onorato [D] - Ranking member—Insurance - Albany, $250 Senator Jim Wright [R] - Chair—Energy & Telecommunications - Albany, $400 Assem William Magnarelli [D] - Albany, $250 Tuesday, February 7th Senator Jose Serrano [R] - Albany, $250 Monday, February 13th Assem Barclay Assem Brodsky Assem Burling Assem Kolb Assem Stephens Assem Stephens Senator Bonacic Senator Saland Senator Stachowski Senator Valesky Tuesday, February 14th Assem Casale Assem Farrell Assem Silver Assem Markey Senator Flanagan Senator Morahan Back to newsletter list

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