NEW YORK NURSE: January-February 2011
Karen A. Ballard, president of the New York State Nurses Association, has been appointed to Governor Cuomo’s Medicaid Redesign Team, a group charged with finding ways to save money within the Medicaid program for the 2011-12 fiscal year. “New York State is faced with a significant challenge to control the cost of Medicaid in this budget and beyond. Medicaid provides a critical healthcare safety net for many New Yorkers.” Ballard said. “Available staffing and adverse patient outcome data must be utilized to better inform decisions regarding Medicaid services, nurse staffing levels and the provision of quality patient care during times of fiscal crisis.” The Medicaid Redesign Team, comprised of leaders from across New York’s healthcare community, must submit their recommendations by March 1 for the governor’s consideration in the budget process.