January 2, 2009 News Headlines

HANYS has released the results of a Siena Research Institute poll showing that nearly two-thirds of New Yorkers would rather see their taxes raised than close the state budget deficit by cuts to health care or education. The recent survey of registered voters, conducted on behalf of HANYS, also shows that by a margin of 79% to 17%, New Yorkers oppose state budget policies that cut funding for Medicaid, and by an even larger margin (84% to 13%), they oppose budget actions that cut spending for health care.

On December 16, Governor Paterson unveiled his 2009-2010 Executive Budget proposal, which included more than $2.5 billion in health care cuts and taxes, and hundreds of millions more in education cuts.

“The Siena polling data show that the public, by a solid majority, disagrees with the Governor’s plan to make such huge cuts to health care services,” said HANYS’ President Daniel Sisto. “Voters clearly know the value of their local health care providers and they don’t want anyone, not even the Governor, to imperil their access to care for any reason.”

Survey participants were told the state faces a $2 billion deficit in the current fiscal year and a $12 billion deficit in the next fiscal year. They were told that health care accounts for the largest portion of the state budget and education the second largest portion. They were then given four choices and asked which best describes how they feel. Sixteen percent said cut spending to both health care and education. One in ten voters said cut spending to education but not health care, while 6% said cut spending to health care but not education. The vast majority (63%), however, said New York should not cut spending to either health care or education, even if it means raising taxes.

“This poll makes abundantly clear that New Yorkers place enormous value on their ability to access local health care services,” Mr. Sisto said. “This information should give the Legislature good reason to fight hard to mitigate the tremendous health care cuts Governor Paterson has proposed in his Executive Budget plan.”

Additionally, according to the poll, a plurality of voters, 37%, say New York spends too little on Medicaid, compared to 22% who say too much is spent. One in five voters thinks New York spends about the right amount of money on Medicaid. The poll also found that, by a margin of 49% to 33%, New Yorkers have a favorable view of the Medicaid system in New York.

The poll also found that more than three-quarters of New Yorkers rate their local hospital as “good” or better, including 45% who rate the quality of their local hospital as either “excellent” or “very good.” Only 5% rated their local hospital as poor.

“New Yorkers expect exceptional care and service from their local hospitals, and largely that’s what they get,” Mr. Sisto said. “Voters clearly understand the financial squeeze under which hospitals and other health care providers are forced to operate. And they clearly do not want to see the state budget balanced by cutting money to hospitals, health care, or Medicaid.” Contact: William Van Slyke

A New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene study shows gaps in the care that New Yorkers with diabetes receive. According to the new study, fewer than 10% of New Yorkers with diabetes are fully controlling their conditions. More than 90% of them have elevated blood pressure, cholesterol, or blood sugar, placing them at increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and other complications. Some 500,000 New York City adults have been diagnosed with diabetes; 200,000 more have the condition but do not know it. In addition, the new study suggests that 1.4 million non-diabetic New Yorkers have high enough blood sugar levels to place them at high risk of developing diabetes. This high rate of “pre-diabetes” is a forecast for a huge wave of future illness. Additional details are available online.