By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-970888.mp3
Albany, NY – New York State's Medicaid program goes transparent - on the internet - Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports a new website will allow the public to monitor spending and track the progress of state goals for cuts to the program.
The New York State Medicaid Redesign Team is a public and private group, created by Governor Andrew Cuomo through an Executive Order that he announced in his State of the State address on January 5. The team's mission is to control costs and improve quality in the state's $58.3 billion Medicaid program. Beginning next week, citizens will be able to see exactly how cost-containment efforts are moving along.
Morris Peters is a spokesman with the Division of Budget
Empire Center director Tim Hoefer, says the policy group applauds the effort at transparency
Hoefer expects the website will serve as somewhat of a guardian of consumer rights
Rockefeller Institute of Government Director Tom Gais says while the website represents "an interesting change" for New York, it remains to be seen how well citizens will be able to understand and interpret the monthly cost data that will be displayed.
Budget officials have set a goal of keeping New York's Medicaid spending on par with Consumer Price Index health care cost indicators.
Morris Peters says the website will go live next week.
Governor Cuomo's website address is governor.ny.gov