NY gets $8B Medicaid waiver
By Michael Virtanen, AP
New York reached an agreement Thursday with federal officials for a waiver that would allow the state to reinvest $8 billion in Medicaid savings that officials say will be used to support hospitals and improve health care.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who had been seeking a waiver of $10 billion since 2012, said in a statement that an "agreement in principle" had been reached. The agreement with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius still has to be finalized.
"It's not everything New York asked for, but it is a generous amount," Sen. Chuck Schumer said in a statement. "This large amount of money should help all of New York, both upstate and downstate, with both its budgetary challenges and hospital needs."
Specific terms and conditions for the waiver still need to be finalized and the state will have to meet ongoing milestones to receive the funding, according to an HHS spokeswoman.
http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2014-02-14-86805.113122-NY-gets-8B-Medicaid-waiver.html