1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to Get Connected with Nina del Rio, a weekly 2 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:09,440 Speaker 1: conversation about fitness, health and happenings in our community on 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,240 Speaker 1: one oh six point seven Light FM. 4 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 2: Good morning, and thanks for listening to Get Connected. As 5 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 2: New York State navigates federal threats to cut Medicaid and 6 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:22,799 Speaker 2: the social Safety Net. My guest is Joe Presley, vice 7 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 2: president of public Policy and government Relations at Amedacare. Amedacare 8 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 2: is New York State's largest special needs healthcare plan, serving 9 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:35,519 Speaker 2: nearly ten thousand members living with HIV, AIDS, people who 10 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 2: are experiencing homelessness and living with other complex health issues. 11 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 2: Joe will help us understand the implications of weakening Medicaid, 12 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,959 Speaker 2: especially at a time when HIV cases arising, and what 13 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:50,879 Speaker 2: the state could do to protect patients and funding. Joe Presley, 14 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 2: thank you for being on Get Connected. Thank you for 15 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 2: having me so, could you tell us first a little 16 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 2: bit more about what Amediacre does and who are your members? 17 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 3: Well, thank you for that great introduction about Emediacare. We 18 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 3: have been around since two thousand and three. We are 19 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:10,839 Speaker 3: a Medicaid health plan focused in New York City. We'd 20 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 3: like to posit ourselves as being experts in HIV, sexual health, 21 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 3: and gender firming care. We provide a comprehensive healthcare to 22 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 3: about ten thousand plus New Yorkers. And one of the 23 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 3: things that's unique to our special sauce I guess at 24 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 3: Emdacare is that in the middle of our healthcare we 25 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:37,479 Speaker 3: posit advocacy. That you can't have health care without advocacy. 26 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 3: We're about health advocacy and care. Most of our members 27 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 3: are people living with HIV, but we were fortunate enough 28 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 3: a couple of years ago to add to our portfolio 29 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 3: the ability to provide services to people of trans and 30 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 3: non binary experience, regardless of their HIV status, and also 31 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 3: the homeless people regardless of their HIA status. 32 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's really interesting to me that there is healthcare 33 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 2: for people living with homelessness. Who doesn't know about Amedacare 34 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 2: but should I would think it's a lot of that population. 35 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 3: Oh, definitely the homeless population. We want to be able 36 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 3: to reach more people of trans and non binary experience. 37 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 3: You know, we believe that snips are an important weapon 38 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 3: tool in the fight against HIV and AIDS, and so 39 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 3: right now we are bound to the five boroughs of 40 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 3: New York City. But if we have our way. We'd 41 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 3: like to at some point expand beyond the five boroughs. 42 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 3: We believe that it's important that all New Yorkers have 43 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 3: access to the products that we serve or provide at Amedacare. 44 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 2: It is a very challenging time for healthcare in the US. 45 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 2: How would you describe it? 46 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 3: Challenging is probably the tip of the iceberg. Yeah, you know, 47 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 3: it has been since the year and I'm going to 48 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 3: be very very frank. You know, obviously we are targeting 49 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 3: our advocacy to both sides of the aisle, both Republicans 50 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 3: and Democrats. But the assault on healthcare has been horrendous. 51 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 3: HR one, which others have called the Big Beautiful Bill, 52 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 3: we actually call it the Big Ugly Bill. I have 53 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 3: to be very clear about that. HR one, as it's known, 54 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 3: became the law of the land in July of last year. 55 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 3: Actually the President signed it into law on July fourth. 56 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 3: We're looking at upwards of a trillion dollars in cuts 57 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 3: to Medicaid one trillion. That's millions and millions and billions 58 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 3: of dollars. Just absolutely horrendous and what many of us 59 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 3: see this as as the biggest transfer of wealth that 60 00:03:55,440 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 3: this country has ever experienced, basically taking from the poor 61 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 3: and giving to the rich. And so the hill that 62 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 3: we have to climb to undo this is tremendous. In 63 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 3: New York State, we're looking at upwards of thirteen billion 64 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:18,919 Speaker 3: dollars in lost revenue for Medicaid as we move forward, 65 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 3: over one point five million New Yorkers will be without 66 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 3: healthcare because of the draconian components of HR one. Just absolutely, 67 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:30,840 Speaker 3: absolutely horrific. 68 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 2: There are a lot of key changes to Medicaid that 69 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 2: came with HR one. Just for the sake of time, 70 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:39,919 Speaker 2: I'll mention a couple of them. It's estimated that funding 71 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 2: cuts in HR one will result in ten million people 72 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 2: being uninsured by twenty thirty four. The bill restricts how 73 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:49,839 Speaker 2: states can use taxes to fund Medicaid and expansion states. 74 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 2: It also includes federally mandated work requirements. That's right, when 75 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 2: you talk about the transfer of wealth, can you explain 76 00:04:57,960 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 2: what you mean by that. 77 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 3: So there was a mandate basically from the White House 78 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 3: to members of Congress that there had to be tax rebates, 79 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:12,359 Speaker 3: tax savings for the wealthiest of Americans, and so you 80 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 3: had to find that money from somewhere. And so Congress 81 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 3: looked at healthcare, they looked at SNAP, they looked at education. 82 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 3: You know, we know all about DOGE, you know, and 83 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 3: those were the funds that were used to fund these 84 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 3: tax savings for wealthy Americans. And so that's what I mean, 85 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 3: you know, they looked at all of these things that 86 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:39,039 Speaker 3: you just mentioned in healthcare and medicaid as ways to 87 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:44,479 Speaker 3: offset the tax cuts that were given to many wealthy Americans. 88 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 2: My guest is Joe Presley. He is vice president of 89 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 2: public Policy and government Relations at amdacare. Amdacare currently serves 90 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 2: ten thousand members throughout the five boroughs, including people living 91 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 2: with HIV AIDS, people who are experiencing homelessness regardless of 92 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 2: HIV status, and people of transgender experience regardless of HIV status. 93 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 2: You can find out more at medacarey dot org. You're 94 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 2: listening to get connected on one six point seven light 95 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 2: FM Imina del Rio. We're talking about federal threats to 96 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 2: cut Medicaid and the implications for New York State. You 97 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 2: mentioned the amount of money that would be lost that 98 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 2: New York State would lose. You're talking not just about 99 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 2: patients who You're talking about hospitals and healthcare providers. 100 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 3: That's correct. I should also add that New York can 101 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:34,279 Speaker 3: afford to blink when it comes to Medicaid. And so 102 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,919 Speaker 3: this year's budget, you know, I have to applaud Governor 103 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 3: Hockel in terms of the investment that she's made for Medicaid. 104 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 3: Four billion dollars has come out of the tax coffers 105 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 3: for Medicaid. However, I mentioned the thirteen billion dollars deficit 106 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:59,159 Speaker 3: this year. You know, we know that you do the math. 107 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 3: You know, four billion and thirteen billion those cuts where 108 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:05,920 Speaker 3: the dollar is going to come from. So again, if 109 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 3: you look at the budget, we don't see any cuts, 110 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 3: but we're concerned as we move the clock, as we 111 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 3: wind the clock forward, we could see those cuts come 112 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 3: in the form of lower rates to providers, which means 113 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 3: that we have to then transfer those cuts to providers 114 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 3: and to other providers and actually to people on these 115 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 3: Medicaid plans. This year, again you look at the budget, 116 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 3: you don't see any cuts, but the devils in the details. 117 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 3: As we wind the clock forward, we're concerned about next 118 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 3: year's budget and the strong possibility that we could see 119 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 3: across the board cuts in Medicaid in the budget in 120 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 3: future years. And so it is horrendous. You know, the 121 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 3: numbers of people who are looking who will be without 122 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 3: services again one point five million New Yorkers you mentioned 123 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 3: the ten million across the country, and that will only 124 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 3: increase as we move forward. You know, there's this whole rhetoric, 125 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 3: all this rhetoric out there about fraud, waste, and abuse. Now, 126 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 3: of course, there are always ways that we can make 127 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 3: the system better, but it is not about throwing out 128 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 3: the baby with the bath water. You know, we are 129 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 3: in a situation where vile rhetoric is being spouted out 130 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 3: there about fraud, waste, and abuse. It's unnecessary, it's evil. 131 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 3: It's also balancing the budget on the backs of people 132 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 3: who need these services, who vilently need these services to 133 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:40,239 Speaker 3: have sound healthcare and to exist and thrive in society. 134 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 2: So what are you advocating for when you look at 135 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 2: the proposed budget to make up that difference with what's 136 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 2: being cut and what is needed. 137 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 3: So we know, again, this is not a problem that 138 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 3: the governor of New York State has created. Let's be 139 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:59,440 Speaker 3: honest here, right, and so we are thankful, as I mentioned, 140 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 3: how various policymakers in New York State understand the horrendous 141 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,559 Speaker 3: impact of HR one, and so what we are doing 142 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 3: in concert with New Yorkers across the state is that 143 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 3: we've created a campaign called Medicaid for US New York 144 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 3: and this is about twenty organizations across New York and growing. 145 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 3: And we're saying to the Governor of New York State, well, 146 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 3: thank you, do what you can to mitigate these cuts 147 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:34,439 Speaker 3: from the Feds. But we also are turning our attention 148 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 3: onto the twenty six members of Congress here in New York, 149 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 3: saying to both US Senators and to the twenty four 150 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 3: members of the Congressional delegation Republican and Democrats, that you 151 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 3: need to fix HR one, that you need to allow 152 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 3: the advanced Premium tax credits for New Yorkers, that you 153 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:59,559 Speaker 3: need to take off the recertification twice a year for 154 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 3: medic all of it. And so we're saying repeal and 155 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:08,320 Speaker 3: reform or repeal HR one. And so we've been doing 156 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 3: that via ads. We had an ad in USA today, 157 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 3: we had an ad in elde Audio and New York. 158 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 3: We're looking to do additional ads as we move forward. 159 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:22,680 Speaker 3: We've done a postcard campaign, letter writing campaigns targeting both 160 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 3: US Senators and all members of the Congressional delegation. And frankly, 161 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 3: we've also gone even deeper with the seven congressional members 162 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 3: of the delegation who are Republican actually who voted for 163 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:39,800 Speaker 3: HR one and saying this is horrendous for the people 164 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:43,679 Speaker 3: in your communities, the people who voted for you. Medicaid 165 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 3: not only is about saving lives, it's also an economic 166 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 3: engine for New York, for hospitals, for healthcare clinics. And 167 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:57,560 Speaker 3: if you cut Medicaid, you're not only hurting people's healthcare, 168 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:01,319 Speaker 3: but you're also cutting job the job force as well. 169 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,720 Speaker 3: And we need to make certain that the infrastructure is 170 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 3: maintained not only for health, but also for the economy 171 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 3: of these communities across New York State. 172 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 2: I want to talk more about the action plan and 173 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 2: public pressure, but I don't want to leave out one 174 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 2: thing I mentioned at the top, that these cuts are 175 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:20,560 Speaker 2: being implemented as HIV infection rates arising in New York 176 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:22,719 Speaker 2: after years of decline. Why is that? 177 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 3: I mean one thing, you had COVID, right, and so 178 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:28,960 Speaker 3: in twenty twenty, you had COVID where people were actually 179 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 3: at home and not able to have touch points with 180 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:37,439 Speaker 3: providers and with other folks, and so for whatever reasons, 181 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 3: we began to see an uptick in in the cases right. 182 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 3: What is extremely important at this juncture is the role 183 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 3: that Medicaid plays in providing access to people who are 184 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 3: living with or at risk for HIV and AIDS. I 185 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:57,359 Speaker 3: don't want to sound too wonkish, but there are MEDICAIDS 186 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 3: that medications out there called PEP which posts exposure prophylaxis, 187 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 3: which has literally been a game changer for people living 188 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 3: with HIV and AIDS. These are medications where you can 189 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 3: take because of long acting injectables, you can take once 190 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 3: every other month. We're looking at innovations where you can 191 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 3: take once every six months, where you can bring down 192 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 3: the virus in your body to basically zero, and that 193 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:27,720 Speaker 3: means you won't be able to transmit it to other folks. 194 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 3: You will also be able to live longer and healthy lives, 195 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 3: which is a game changer for those of us living 196 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:38,160 Speaker 3: with HIV, and then for those who are at risk 197 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 3: for HIV, we have what we call prep pre exposure prophylaxis, 198 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 3: which has been a game changer as well. Because of 199 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:50,959 Speaker 3: these new medications which Medicaid does provide support for. Here 200 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 3: in New York State. We've been able to prevent the 201 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 3: spread of HIV and AIDS. One of the new medications 202 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:02,960 Speaker 3: that's out there over nine nine percent effective rate. Some 203 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:06,079 Speaker 3: studies have shown it to be one hundred percent effective. 204 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:10,079 Speaker 3: And when we see medicaid going in the other direction, 205 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 3: we're talking about people not having access to these life saving, 206 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 3: life protecting medications, and it's we need medicaid. Medicaid provides 207 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 3: support for over forty percent of people living with HIV 208 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:29,080 Speaker 3: and AIDS in our country. And so, either if it's 209 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 3: from a prevention perspective or from a care perspective, we 210 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 3: need to make certain that Medicaid remains in force and 211 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 3: helps us to we see the light at the end 212 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 3: of the tunnel in terms of ending the epidemic. But 213 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 3: if we go in the other direction, those numbers that 214 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 3: I mentioned will only continue to rise. Now is not 215 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 3: the time to throw down the gauntlet in the fight 216 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:54,440 Speaker 3: for HIV and AIDS. 217 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:57,040 Speaker 2: So in our last couple of minutes, are you seeing 218 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 2: the advocacy campaign or how are you seeing the advocate 219 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 2: see campaign work among the representatives with the state, It 220 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 2: is working. 221 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, you know, look last year Mini advocates said, 222 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 3: oh Joe, Oh my god, We're not going to be 223 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:12,680 Speaker 3: able to win. We're not going to be able to 224 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:15,840 Speaker 3: fight any longer. This is an all out attack on us. 225 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 3: And because of what I mentioned before, and I'm going 226 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 3: to give the website because I want to encourage your 227 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 3: listeners to go to M for us n Y. That's 228 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 3: M four M for Medicaid for the number four USNY 229 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 3: dot org. It is a campaign that a Mediacare and 230 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 3: Housing Works and other groups have launched to really say 231 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 3: to New Yorkers, this is what we need to do. 232 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 3: These are the action steps of how we need to 233 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 3: take back Medicaid. And so the answer question is it working. Yes, 234 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 3: we believe that it is without any equivocation. So we 235 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 3: saw some of the more moderate conservative Republicans stand up 236 00:14:56,760 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 3: and say we need to extend the provider taxes for 237 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 3: New York. What was going to sunset this year has 238 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 3: been extended to the end of the year, which means 239 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 3: about one billion more, one billion dollars more in resources 240 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 3: for New York State. That's a win, but we cannot 241 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 3: let them off the hook, Democrats and Republicans. We have 242 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:24,360 Speaker 3: to continue to keep the heat on and extending the 243 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 3: provider tax to the end of the year. Is it 244 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 3: a win, Yes, but it's breadcrumb's being thrown at us. 245 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 3: We need to take back Medicaid and send the signal 246 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 3: and we can do that via the campaign that I. 247 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 2: Mentioned, And I'm going to ask you to mention that again. 248 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 2: But how much of a difference does it actually make 249 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 2: when people step up and join in. How much do 250 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 2: the representatives pay attention to that they do? 251 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 3: So, I'm an old school advocate, right I believe in 252 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 3: or community organizing. Yes, I'm a policy guy. But at 253 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 3: the heart of what we do here to meet a 254 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 3: care it's advocacy, both from a Polish policy perspective and 255 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 3: a community organizing perspective. Yes, elected listen to that. They 256 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:10,680 Speaker 3: listen to the voters in their district. They listen to 257 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 3: the numbers of jobs lost in their districts. So we're 258 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 3: playing the policy game, but we also are playing the 259 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 3: organizing game, using media, using print and vocal media, audio media, television, 260 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 3: all of it. We've been doing. Actually through the Christmas season, 261 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:33,360 Speaker 3: we did caroling around around these cuts and did that 262 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:35,280 Speaker 3: at Long at the Long Island Railroad here in New 263 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 3: York City at Penn Station. We also did a statan 264 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 3: now at Ferry sending awareness to New Yorkers about the 265 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 3: impact of these cuts, and legislators are listening. 266 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 2: Joe, can you give that address again. 267 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 3: It's m for USNY dot org. 268 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 2: Joe Presley is vice president of public policy and government 269 00:16:56,240 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 2: Relations at amdacare. Their website is a mediacare and y 270 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 2: dot org. Thank you for being to get connected. 271 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 3: You're very, very welcome and enjoy doing this.