City, State team up to battle Medicaid fraud

The State will let NYC keep some recovered Medicaid funds in fraud investigations, says this NY Post article.
Click on the link below to read more.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12292006/news/regionalnews/city_joins_medicaid_crackdown_regionalnews_kenneth_lovett__post_correspondent.htm

A new Sheriff in town

Associated press Reporter Michael Gormley says the new State Senate Minority Leader, Democrat Malcolm Smith, is not your father's minority leader. Read more about the 50-year old Queens legislator by clicking on the link below.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NY_SENATE_DEMOCRATS_NYOL-?SITE=NYITH&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Dicker says don't let the door hit you to Gov

In his NY Post column Fred Dicker lets go with all his frustrations and disdain for out-going Governor George Pataki. Click on the link below to read his column.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12282006/postopinion/opedcolumnists/good_riddance_opedcolumnists_fredric_u__dicker.htm

Politics as a 'Fantasy' sport

This new game could be fun and educational for all. Learn more by clicking on the link below.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/12/26/politics_becomes_a_fantasy_sport/

Veto

Governor George Pataki has vetoed the so called Quality of Care Act.
You can read about the veto by clicking on the link below.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12212006/news/regionalnews/pataki_nubs_caregivers_regionalnews_kenneth_lovett.htm

Who will be health commissioner?

This NY Sun article says tha Governor elect Eliot Spitzer is still looking for health commissioner. http://www.nysun.com/article/45479

Now that's what I call a BONUS

This AP article in today's Albany Time-Union is just "interesting." I post it only because when I read it my jaw dropped so far and so hard that I got rug burn on my chin. Happy Holidays.

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=546423&category=BUSINESS&newsdate=12/20/2006

Ethics and Conflict

Rick Karlin has a piece in today's Albany Times-Union about ethics and conflict of interest in Albany politics that raises some interesting points. The article makes the point that conflict of interest laws may need to be strengthened, but sources interviewed also suggest that the relatively small group of lawyers and connected insiders that influence what goes on in SmAlbany political circles is an issue seldom addressed.

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=546374&category=STATE&newsdate=12/20/2006

Access Denied

Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS) / Assistive Technology Advocacy Project has filed a lawsuit against the NYS Department of Health (DOH) on behalf of Medicaid / Medicare dual eligible consumers as a result of their inability to access the Medicaid prior approval process for Durable Medical Equipment (DME).
Read more abou the lawsuit here http://d17966.u25.mercurywebhosting.com/uploads/doc_764DME%20UPDATE.htm

Political this and that

This Albany Times-Union article by Rick Karlin reveals that New York may again miss a federal deadline to comply with HAVA requirement to update voting machines.
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=546081&category=STATE&newsdate=12/19/2006

State Senate Majority leaders Joe Bruno now wants everything in the State Budget, including spending by authorities, the Legislature and the judiciary, says Erik Kriss in his political notebook from the Syracuse Post Standard.

http://www.syracuse.com/news/poststandard/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1166349800114360.xml&coll=1

Day One...

Reporters and columnists across the state are stepping up the pressure on Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer to live up to his campaign promise and change the way government in New York operates.

Michael Goodwin is straightforward and blunt in today's NY Daily News. In his column, "Spitzer, Stop the Insanity," http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/480708p-404537c.html Goodwin calls on the next Governor to follow the money and investigate the legislature, beginning with the money handed out to community groups and others in Member items.

An investigation of the Legislature by a first-term Governor would be unusual and would certainly stir up some dust in stogy old Albany. Whether or not it would change the "Three-Men-in-a-Room" brand of decision making in New York is questionable. What is plain to see, however, that journalists heard what Spitzer said during his campaign and many appear ready to try to hold him to his promise.

New Yorkers favor term limits

So, after the thinly veiled insults heaved back and forth yesterday by Assembly majority leader Sheldon Silver and Governor George Pataki, is anyone surprised that a recently released Quinnipiac Poll finds that most New Yorkers want term limits for elected officials?

You can read more about the results of the poll on line at www.quinnipiac.edu/x1318.xml?ReleasedID=1000

Goodsearch is working

We received our first check from GoodSearch.com today. It is a modest donation of part of their proceeds from the first few months of our membership. If everyone remembers to use GoodSearch.com for their internet searches, both at work and at home, next year could see a dramatic increase in the amount of money donated to CP of NYS.

Please go to GoodSearch.com and make Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State your designated recipient of funds, then make GoodSearch.com your main search option. CP of NYS receives a penny for every search query you submit. GoodSearch is powered by Yahoo, so it is fast and reliable.

Please sign up and keep searching.

Lobby Day and Gazette Insert

The 2007 CP of NYS Special Report section will be included in the March 5 edition of The Legislative Gazette. The insert will be printed the day prior to our Lobby Day. Please take this opportunity to submit feature stories and photos about consumers or innovative programs at your agency. I hope you’ll take this opportunity to showcase your organization to a statewide audience. CP of NYS Affiliates who purchase an ad are invited to send along a story and photo. Photos are critical. Please send photographs of people with disabilities receiving services, or staff members interacting with consumers. The more ads purchased by Affiliates, the more editorial space we will have to place your stories. All advertising must be submitted to the Legislative Gazette office by January 31, 2007. All photos and stories need to be in to me at the Affiliate Services Office in Albany by February 1, 2007.

If you have questions please call me at 518-436-0178.

CP New York Notes

This is the first of many posts intended to provide information about our organization, the people we serve and the issues important to us.

If you wish to suggest topics or comment on posts, please feel free to do so.

Al Shibley