Late yesterday, the State Assembly and Senate passed the 2008-2009 fiscal year health care budget. The health care portion of the budget totals approximately $59.2 billion, or nearly half of the $124 billion budget. Highlights include redirecting funds to encourage primary and preventive care, expanding the State's Child Health Plus Program to include children of families at up to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level, and creating "Doctors Across New York", a loan forgiveness program for physicians who agree to practice in underserved communities.
To view Governor Patterson's press release regarding the health care budget, click here. A fact sheet highlighting certain portions of the agreed to budget can be accessed here.
An article that appears in today's New York Times regarding the health care budget can be found here.