Sen. Schumer says decision on Medicaid waiver coming
By Matthew Dondiego
Just days after Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York city Mayor Bill de Blasio appeared at a joint press conference pressuring the federal government to approve a $10 billion Medicaid waiver; New York's senior U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer said a decision on the waiver should be reached within 30 days.
Speaking with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on the House floor following President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, Schumer says he emphasized the "the importance of New York state receiving the Medicaid waiver they are seeking from the federal government."
The waiver would allow the state to reinvest up to $10 billion of the $17.1 billion in federal savings made available through the governor's Medicaid Redesign Team. The waiver would be used to fund transformations of a number of programs within the state healthcare system, using recommendations made by the state appointed commission.
Sen. Schumer says the state will likely receive a decision on the requested $10 billion Medicaid waiver withing 30 days.
"I told the Secretary that the health care system in New York is undergoing a rapid transformation, and that these funds — up to $10 billion — would ensure that New Yorkers continue to have access to a top-notch level of health care," Schumer said in a statement. "I appreciate her commitment to concluding the review of this application as soon as possible, and look forward to the state getting a positive decision in the very near future."
http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2014-01-29-86575.113122-Sen-Schumer-says-decision-on-Medicaid-waiver-coming.html