New York, NY –
Governor Paterson says the state of New York State is "perilous," but he says a new set of priorities -- and the courage to balance a budget with a $15 billion deficit -- could create a "brighter, smarter future."
Paterson says some 225,000 New Yorkers could lose their jobs before the recession is over, and he wants to make sure they don't lose their health insurance. He says the state would try to insure almost a quarter of a million more people through Medicaid, with federal assistance.
PATERSON: We will do it by asking the federal government to give us a waiver, so that we can access savings from our Medicaid program and devote them to that purpose.
REPORTER: Paterson also says the state would work with private insurers to cover young adults, ages 19-to-29, who represent a third of the uninsured. And he pledges to improve health by expanding New York City's trans fat ban in restaurants state-wide and by placing a sugar tax on sodas. He also wants to set up a consortium upstate to develop hybrid electric batteries.
Fred Mogul has been covering healthcare and medicine for WNYC since 2002. His beat takes him to hospitals, community clinics, doctors offices, health agencies, public schools and research labs across the metropolitan area. His work has appeared on NPR and in the New York Times, Time magazine and Philadelphia Inquirer, among others.
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.