Earlier today, the Medicaid Redesign Team sent a package of proposals to the State Legislature. The proposals, should they be incorporated into the State budget as Governor Andrew Cuomo undoubtedly intends, Medicaid consumers will be negatively impacted. This is the worst thing we could do at a time when we need to bolster out healthcare system and ensure that every disabled and poor person is adequately equipped to respond to COVID-19. This includes disabled people currently relying on home- and community-based services and supports that allow us to live in the community. The Medicaid changes and cuts will lead to increased institutionalization of disabled people.

As such, the Center for Disability Rights stands with other members of the Protect Medicaid coalition in stating:

“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 persons living with disabilities. The proposals advanced by the Medicaid Redesign Team (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 Corporation. 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.”