Final State Budget Falls Short for Health Care

April 2nd, 2007
     SARANAC LAKE -  Each year, without exception, hospitals and nursing homes face an uphill battle in staving off funding cuts contained in the New York State budget proposal.
Despite reimbursement rates that are incongruous with the cost of health care, hospitals have for years fought to protect a static level of funding critical to providing the high level of care their communities deserve.
     While in years past, hospitals and nursing homes have fought to maintain a zero-funding increase, this year they have been left with less than zero.
For Adirondack Medical Center, the two recently acquired nursing homes have bore the brunt of Gov. Eliot Spitzer's budget cuts.
     Nevertheless, the situation could have been much more dire were it not for the tireless efforts of state Sen. Elizabeth "Betty" Little, Assemblywoman Janet Duprey, and Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward, and their staunch opposition to the governor's health care cuts. AMC was facing an initial budget impact of $365,000, which has since been lessened to $140,000 thanks to the effort of Sen. Little and Assemblywomen Duprey and Sayward.
     For the nursing homes, AMC-Mercy and AMC-Uihlein, the combined budget impact was downgraded from $209,000 to $175,000. AMC-Uihlein went from an initial budget impact of $134,000 to $125,000, and AMC-Mercy went from an initial budget impact of $75,000 to $50,000.
     The overall financial impact was in large part mitigated by a 75 percent restoration of the Medicaid trend factor, which helps health care facilities to keep pace with the ever-growing cost of pharmaceuticals, energy, technology and other operating expenses. The second contributing factor in the funding restoration was the elimination of the hospital gross receipts tax.
     "This was not the news we were hoping for, but I am confident we will move forward in a way that does not affect the high level of service we provide in the Tri-Lakes region," said Chandler Ralph, AMC President & CEO, "More than anything, our greatest resource is the creative, innovative and dedicated staff that has made it a priority to put patients first since Day One."
     Despite the conclusion of the state budget process, AMC will continue to advocate true health care reform on a state and federal level through a grassroots campaign and direct contact with our elected officials.

	AMC is accredited by the Joint Commission. Click here to view the Joint Commission Public Notice.
	AMC is accredited by the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program.
	Adirondack Medical Center's Bariatric Program and Dr. Michael Hill have been designated as a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.