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<title>NCPR Topical RSS: medicaid</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org</link>
<description>Latest North Country Public Radio regional news by topic. Topic=medicaid.</description>
<language>en-us</language>
<copyright>&#x2117; &amp; &#xA9; 2013, North Country Public Radio</copyright>
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<ttl>60</ttl>
<managingEditor>radio@ncpr.org</managingEditor>
<webMaster>radio@ncpr.org</webMaster>
<itunes:author>North Country Public Radio Newsroom</itunes:author>
<itunes:summary>NCPR provides locally-produced news stories from around the Adirondack and North Country regions of New York State, as well as Western Vermont, and Ontario and Quebec in Canada.</itunes:summary>
<itunes:owner>
<itunes:name>Managing Editor</itunes:name>
<itunes:email>radio@ncpr.org</itunes:email>
</itunes:owner>
<itunes:category text="News"></itunes:category>
<itunes:image href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/images/ncprorgsm.gif" />

<image>
<title>North Country Public Radio Newsroom</title>
<url>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/images/ncprorgsm.gif</url>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org</link>
<width>51</width>
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<description>NCPR provides locally-produced news stories from around the Adirondack and North Country regions of New York State, as well as Western Vermont, and Ontario and Quebec in Canada.</description>
</image>
<item>
<title>Can the North Country make nursing homes work? </title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/21911/20130503/can-the-north-country-make-nursing-homes-work</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (May 3, 2013) Many nursing homes around the state are seeing big financial losses, and the situation is the same, if not worse, here in the North Country. That&apos;s sparked a dialogue in the last few months among the region&apos;s long-term care leaders about ways they can partner, share services or even consolidate under one organization. Leaders of at least eight to 10 of the region&apos;s nursing homes have been involved in these talks. Some long-term care advocates believe North Country nursing homes are at a tipping point. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/21911/20130503/can-the-north-country-make-nursing-homes-work">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
<enclosure url="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/Nursing_Homes.mp3" length="2580012" type="audio/mpeg"/>
<itunes:author>NCPR: Chris Knight</itunes:author>
<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Many nursing homes around the state are seeing big financial losses, and the situation is the same, if not worse, here in the North Country. That&apos;s sparked a dialogue in the last few months among the region&apos;s long-term care leaders about ways they can partner, share services or even consolidate under one organization. Leaders of at least eight to 10 of the region&apos;s nursing homes have been involved in these talks. Some long-term care advocates believe North Country nursing homes are at a tipping point. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/21911/20130503/can-the-north-country-make-nursing-homes-work">full story</a></strong>]]]></itunes:summary>
<guid>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/Nursing_Homes.mp3</guid>
<itunes:duration>05:22</itunes:duration>
<itunes:keywords>photolead, politics, economy, medicaid, nursing home, long term care, lake placid, tupper lake, topstory</itunes:keywords>
<enclosure url="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/images/NursingHomes2.jpg" length="114462" type="image/jpeg"/>
<enclosure url="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/images/NursingHomes1X.jpg" length="110665" type="image/jpeg"/>
</item>

<item>
<title>Minimum wage hike pinches social service budgets</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/21652/20130320/minimum-wage-hike-pinches-social-service-budgets</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Mar 20, 2013) As state lawmakers and Governor Cuomo finalize the state budget, it looks like New York will raise the minimum wage gradually over three years.Under the emerging agreement, the current $7.25 hourly minimum wage would increase to $8 an hour in January, to $8.75 at the beginning of 2015, and reach $9 an hour by the end of 2015. If it happens, it would mean a wage jump of 24 percent in three years. Business leaders have expressed concern about the increased costs, while labor unions, religious, and anti-hunger groups are pushing for the hike.   Social services agencies in the North Country say increasing the minimum wage could help some people, but it also gives them reasons for concern. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/21652/20130320/minimum-wage-hike-pinches-social-service-budgets">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
<enclosure url="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/Minimum_Wage_.mp3" length="2007794" type="audio/mpeg"/>
<itunes:author>NCPR: Julie Grant</itunes:author>
<itunes:summary><![CDATA[As state lawmakers and Governor Cuomo finalize the state budget, it looks like New York will raise the minimum wage gradually over three years.Under the emerging agreement, the current $7.25 hourly minimum wage would increase to $8 an hour in January, to $8.75 at the beginning of 2015, and reach $9 an hour by the end of 2015. If it happens, it would mean a wage jump of 24 percent in three years. Business leaders have expressed concern about the increased costs, while labor unions, religious, and anti-hunger groups are pushing for the hike.   Social services agencies in the North Country say increasing the minimum wage could help some people, but it also gives them reasons for concern. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/21652/20130320/minimum-wage-hike-pinches-social-service-budgets">full story</a></strong>]]]></itunes:summary>
<guid>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/Minimum_Wage_.mp3</guid>
<itunes:duration>04:10</itunes:duration>
<itunes:keywords>photolead, politics, economy, cuomo, minimum wage, employment, developmental disabilities, Medicaid, [loc:44.5971465 -75.2054607], topstory</itunes:keywords>
<enclosure url="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/images/11-19HungerX.jpg" length="71973" type="image/jpeg"/>
</item>

<item>
<title>Amended Cuomo budget includes min wage hike, cuts to disabled</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/21506/20130225/amended-cuomo-budget-includes-min-wage-hike-cuts-to-disabled</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Feb 25, 2013) Governor Cuomo has made several changes to his budget proposal. The amendments range from imposing a teacher evaluation plan on New York City, to cutting the cost of hunting licenses. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/21506/20130225/amended-cuomo-budget-includes-min-wage-hike-cuts-to-disabled">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<enclosure url="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/130225kdbudgetamend.mp3" length="1655719" type="audio/mpeg"/>
<itunes:author>NCPR: Karen DeWitt</itunes:author>
<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Governor Cuomo has made several changes to his budget proposal. The amendments range from imposing a teacher evaluation plan on New York City, to cutting the cost of hunting licenses. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/21506/20130225/amended-cuomo-budget-includes-min-wage-hike-cuts-to-disabled">full story</a></strong>]]]></itunes:summary>
<guid>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/130225kdbudgetamend.mp3</guid>
<itunes:duration>03:26</itunes:duration>
<itunes:keywords>photolead, politics, economy, cuomo, albany, education, medicaid, minimum wage, [loc:42.6525793 -73.7562317], topstory</itunes:keywords>
<enclosure url="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/images/CuomoBudgetSmile.jpg" length="101560" type="image/jpeg"/>
</item>

<item>
<title>North Country nursing homes face questions</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/20255/20120803/north-country-nursing-homes-face-questions</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Aug 3, 2012) As our report from Albany today makes clear, country-run nursing homes are under pressure  statewide. But the problem is particularly acute in rural areas where there aren&apos;t a lot of options for families that need nursing home care.  Adirondack Bureau Chief Brian Mann joins Martha Foley this morning to talk about the situation in the North Country, where county nursing homes from Lake Champlain to Lake Ontario face serious questions about the future. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/20255/20120803/north-country-nursing-homes-face-questions">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
<enclosure url="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/120803bmmfnursing2way.mp3" length="2101627" type="audio/mpeg"/>
<itunes:author>NCPR: Brian Mann</itunes:author>
<itunes:summary><![CDATA[As our report from Albany today makes clear, country-run nursing homes are under pressure  statewide. But the problem is particularly acute in rural areas where there aren&apos;t a lot of options for families that need nursing home care.  Adirondack Bureau Chief Brian Mann joins Martha Foley this morning to talk about the situation in the North Country, where county nursing homes from Lake Champlain to Lake Ontario face serious questions about the future. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/20255/20120803/north-country-nursing-homes-face-questions">full story</a></strong>]]]></itunes:summary>
<guid>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/120803bmmfnursing2way.mp3</guid>
<itunes:duration>04:22</itunes:duration>
<itunes:keywords>health, elder care, medicaid, politics, economy, adirondacks, stlv, tijf, washington County, lewis county, topstory</itunes:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>New York expanding Medicaid, and expects to save billions</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/20211/20120727/new-york-expanding-medicaid-and-expects-to-save-billions</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Jul 27, 2012) The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of most of the Affordable Care Act just last month, including the individual mandate.   But New York has been working to implement the law for more than a year.  The state has already gotten $88 million from the federal government to be one of the first to create a health insurance exchange.  Yesterday, we spoke with Danielle Holahan, the project director for New York’s health insurance exchange planning.Danielle Holahan described a website similar to Travelocity, where people will be able to shop for health insurance plans.  She expects the cost of a policy to be lower than it is today, in part because of the individual mandate. She said, &quot;The mandate, as research shows, has the effect of bringing healthier lives into the insurance market, and that, on average, brings premiums down.  So we saw that premiums would come down for that reason. And then, as sort of a second help, we have the federal tax credits, that would offset the premiums and make it affordable for people. Certainly more than zero if they don’t have coverage today, but it should be affordable and they’ll be getting what we think is a pretty valuable benefit for it.&quot;Another big piece of the Affordable Care Act is the expansion of Medicaid, the government health care system for people with low incomes. Medicaid is administered at the state level. The Affordable Care Act would have required states to expand it, so more people would qualify for coverage.  But the Supreme Court ruled that states don’t have to expand Medicaid. Some states, such as Florida, are saying they won’t. But Holahan tells Julie Grant that New York is also ahead of the game on Medicaid, and it’s going to be lucrative. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/20211/20120727/new-york-expanding-medicaid-and-expects-to-save-billions">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Canton-Potsdam Hospital wants NY to expand Medicaid</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/20089/20120704/canton-potsdam-hospital-wants-ny-to-expand-medicaid</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Jul 4, 2012) Leaders at Canton-Potsdam Hospital want New York to expand the Medicaid program to include people whose incomes are above the federal poverty level. In its ruling upholding the federal health care act last week, the U.S. Supreme Court said states don’t have to expand Medicaid. However, Rick Jacobs, the hospital’s Chief Financial Officer, says expansion would benefit the local hospital. He says if more people have government health insurance, there should be less need for charity care.  That would help the hospital’s bottom line and minimize the hospital’s exposure to bad debt and charity care. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/20089/20120704/canton-potsdam-hospital-wants-ny-to-expand-medicaid">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
<enclosure url="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/120704JGexpandmedicaid.mp3" length="880768" type="audio/mpeg"/>
<itunes:author>NCPR: Julie Grant</itunes:author>
<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Leaders at Canton-Potsdam Hospital want New York to expand the Medicaid program to include people whose incomes are above the federal poverty level. In its ruling upholding the federal health care act last week, the U.S. Supreme Court said states don’t have to expand Medicaid. However, Rick Jacobs, the hospital’s Chief Financial Officer, says expansion would benefit the local hospital. He says if more people have government health insurance, there should be less need for charity care.  That would help the hospital’s bottom line and minimize the hospital’s exposure to bad debt and charity care. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/20089/20120704/canton-potsdam-hospital-wants-ny-to-expand-medicaid">full story</a></strong>]]]></itunes:summary>
<guid>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/120704JGexpandmedicaid.mp3</guid>
<itunes:duration>01:50</itunes:duration>
<itunes:keywords>photolead, health care, stlv, health, Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, [loc:44.6697805 -74.9813084], topstory</itunes:keywords>
<enclosure url="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/images/richardjacobs_175.jpg" length="6814" type="image/jpeg"/>
</item>

<item>
<title>Volunteers fill gaps left by social service funding cuts</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/19368/20120224/volunteers-fill-gaps-left-by-social-service-funding-cuts</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Feb 24, 2012) As local, state and federal governments are looking for ways to do more with less money, demand for aid and services to the poor is increasing. That’s creating some gaps between government-funded organizations’ missions and their means.In St. Lawrence County, volunteer organizations are stepping in to fill some of those gaps—And as Nora Flaherty reports, they’re doing it by being creative—and harnessing local resources. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/19368/20120224/volunteers-fill-gaps-left-by-social-service-funding-cuts">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<enclosure url="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/120224nfvolunteers.mp3" length="2693645" type="audio/mpeg"/>
<itunes:author>NCPR: Nora Flaherty</itunes:author>
<itunes:summary><![CDATA[As local, state and federal governments are looking for ways to do more with less money, demand for aid and services to the poor is increasing. That’s creating some gaps between government-funded organizations’ missions and their means.In St. Lawrence County, volunteer organizations are stepping in to fill some of those gaps—And as Nora Flaherty reports, they’re doing it by being creative—and harnessing local resources. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/19368/20120224/volunteers-fill-gaps-left-by-social-service-funding-cuts">full story</a></strong>]]]></itunes:summary>
<guid>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/120224nfvolunteers.mp3</guid>
<itunes:duration>05:36</itunes:duration>
<itunes:keywords>photolead, economy, politics, cuomo, stlv, LIHEAP, medicaid, social service, poverty, volunteer, [loc:44.5956163 -75.1690942], topstory</itunes:keywords>
<enclosure url="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/images/HelpingHands.jpg" length="78725" type="image/jpeg"/>
<enclosure url="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/images/HelpingHands2.jpg" length="79648" type="image/jpeg"/>
</item>

<item>
<title>Counties disappointed, but state legislators say Medicaid relief just a start</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/19177/20120124/counties-disappointed-but-state-legislators-say-medicaid-relief-just-a-start</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Jan 24, 2012) County leaders around the North Country have been asking the state for mandate relief, especially since New York imposed a 2% property tax cap on local governments last year. Their biggest beef is paying for Medicaid. It accounts for the largest percentage of  many county budgets, and many county leaders don’t think those costs should be their responsibility.  The governor’s budget proposal offers some assistance with local Medicaid costs. The administration has been fanning out around the state, trying to sell the plan he released last week. And Cuomo has gotten some support from north country state legislators. But county leaders aren’t as pleased. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/19177/20120124/counties-disappointed-but-state-legislators-say-medicaid-relief-just-a-start">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<enclosure url="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/120124jgmedicaidrelief.mp3" length="2280701" type="audio/mpeg"/>
<itunes:author>NCPR: Julie Grant</itunes:author>
<itunes:summary><![CDATA[County leaders around the North Country have been asking the state for mandate relief, especially since New York imposed a 2% property tax cap on local governments last year. Their biggest beef is paying for Medicaid. It accounts for the largest percentage of  many county budgets, and many county leaders don’t think those costs should be their responsibility.  The governor’s budget proposal offers some assistance with local Medicaid costs. The administration has been fanning out around the state, trying to sell the plan he released last week. And Cuomo has gotten some support from north country state legislators. But county leaders aren’t as pleased. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/19177/20120124/counties-disappointed-but-state-legislators-say-medicaid-relief-just-a-start">full story</a></strong>]]]></itunes:summary>
<guid>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/120124jgmedicaidrelief.mp3</guid>
<itunes:duration>04:44</itunes:duration>
<itunes:keywords>photolead, economy, politics, cuomo, albany, Medicaid, nysac, counties, health, budget, topstory, [loc:42.6525793 -73.7562317]</itunes:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>NC reps reactions mostly positive on pensions, Medicaid costs and schools</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/19147/20120118/nc-reps-reactions-mostly-positive-on-pensions-medicaid-costs-and-schools</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Jan 18, 2012) Gov. Cuomo now turns his spending plan over to the legislature. Some of Albany&apos;s most powerful interests are gearing up for a fight. During the address yesterday, Cuomo again took aim at what he calls the status quo in Albany, demonizing some of its most powerful labor unions.Cuomo admitted the reforms he envisions will be wrenching, but he said the people will be supportive. He called it &quot;the people&apos;s agenda.&quot;North Country representatives were generally supportive yesterday. Martha Foley has reaction to Cuomo&apos;s proposals on pension reform, relief for county Medicaid costs, and education. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/19147/20120118/nc-reps-reactions-mostly-positive-on-pensions-medicaid-costs-and-schools">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
<enclosure url="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/011812mfreactions.mp3" length="3407955" type="audio/mpeg"/>
<itunes:author>NCPR: NCPR News</itunes:author>
<itunes:summary><![CDATA[Gov. Cuomo now turns his spending plan over to the legislature. Some of Albany&apos;s most powerful interests are gearing up for a fight. During the address yesterday, Cuomo again took aim at what he calls the status quo in Albany, demonizing some of its most powerful labor unions.Cuomo admitted the reforms he envisions will be wrenching, but he said the people will be supportive. He called it &quot;the people&apos;s agenda.&quot;North Country representatives were generally supportive yesterday. Martha Foley has reaction to Cuomo&apos;s proposals on pension reform, relief for county Medicaid costs, and education. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/19147/20120118/nc-reps-reactions-mostly-positive-on-pensions-medicaid-costs-and-schools">full story</a></strong>]]]></itunes:summary>
<guid>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/011812mfreactions.mp3</guid>
<itunes:duration>03:28</itunes:duration>
<itunes:keywords>economy, politics, albany, north country, pensions, labor, medicaid, mandates, education, [loc:42.6525793 -73.7562317], photolead, topstory</itunes:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Cuomo says no to state takeover of Medicaid</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/18557/20111007/cuomo-says-no-to-state-takeover-of-medicaid</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Oct 7, 2011) On Thursday, Governor Andrew Cuomo rebuffed a push by counties and some state lawmakers to have the state choose the local cost of Medicaid.  The health insurance program for the poor costs New York about $53-billion dollars a year. Counties pay roughly 15-percent of that. Cuomo says each level of government needs to pay its share. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/18557/20111007/cuomo-says-no-to-state-takeover-of-medicaid">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
<enclosure url="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/111007mfmedicaidtakeover.mp3" length="905198" type="audio/mpeg"/>
<itunes:author>NCPR: NCPR News</itunes:author>
<itunes:summary><![CDATA[On Thursday, Governor Andrew Cuomo rebuffed a push by counties and some state lawmakers to have the state choose the local cost of Medicaid.  The health insurance program for the poor costs New York about $53-billion dollars a year. Counties pay roughly 15-percent of that. Cuomo says each level of government needs to pay its share. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/18557/20111007/cuomo-says-no-to-state-takeover-of-medicaid">full story</a></strong>]]]></itunes:summary>
<guid>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/111007mfmedicaidtakeover.mp3</guid>
<itunes:duration>01:53</itunes:duration>
<itunes:keywords>photolead, politics, economy, cuomo, medicaid, counties, health, [loc:42.6525793 -73.7562317], topstory</itunes:keywords>
</item>


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