THOMPSON WANTS MEDICAID OFFICE TO STAY OPEN

THOMPSON: MEDICAID ASSISTANCE OFFICE AT NEW YORK-PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL MUST REMAIN OPEN

New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today expressed strong disapproval of the Human Resources Administration's (HRA) plan to close the Medicaid Assistance Office within New York-Presbyterian Hospital on July 31, 2009.

"This decision is counter-productive, and will needlessly burden low-income and disabled New Yorkers who rely on this vital public program for essential health care," Thompson wrote.

In a letter to HRA Commissioner Robert Doar -available at www.comptroller.nyc -Thompson noted that moving the office from its current location will cause New Yorkers with already limited incomes to spend an additional $4.50 round-trip every time they need to access Medicaid administrative services. Furthermore, the extra travel for those with limited mobility would be difficult, if not impossible. 

"Asking hundreds of individuals a day to travel 35 blocks to access critical Medicaid services is both highly burdensome and contrary to New York State's policy to increase enrollment in Medicaid and to reduce the frequency of people cycling on and off eligibility for coverage," Thompson said.

Currently the New York Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital provides the Medicaid Assistance office, an office within the hospital at no charge to New York City. The Washington Heights Medicaid office serves up to 300 people a day, many from Northern New York and the Bronx.

"By making it harder for those most in need to apply for and maintain Medicaid coverage, the City is undermining some of New York State's most basic health care imperatives: to increase enrollment and minimize the incidence of otherwise-eligible individuals losing coverage," Thompson said.

In the letter, Thompson stressed that the burden on the public out weighs advantages in terms of increased space and a more comfortable environment HRA.

"I strongly urge you to reverse this decision and to retain the Medicaid Assistance Office at its current location in Washington Heights," Thompson said.

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