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NEWS RELEASE

St. Luke And Michaud Launch Long-Term Care Services Advocacy Efforts

February 15, 2010

(Oswego) - St. Luke Health Services and affiliate Michaud Residential Health Services 
have joined forces in an advocacy effort designed to urge New York State elected 
officials to reject Governor David Paterson’s proposed budget cuts to long-term care 
services across New York, and here in Oswego Country.

Governor Paterson’s 2010-11 Executive Budget proposes cuts to long term care funding 
totaling $400 million by reducing funding for nursing home care by $140.2 million (state 
share) and home care by $73.9 million (state share). Combined with federal matching 
funds, this means total reductions in funding of $240 million for nursing home and $155 
million for home care services during SFY 2010-11. In addition, Adult Day Health Care, 
assisted living programs and other aging services would also be cut under the Governor’s 
plan.

“Aging and continuing care services across our State have already sustained over $2 
billion in cuts in the last four years alone,” said Greg Osetek, Director of Community 
Relations at St. Luke. “This sector simply cannot sustain more cuts without causing 
significant losses in services and quality. Providers across our State may again have no 
choice but to cut staff, reduce access and eliminate programs in order to survive.” 

Long-term care service providers in Oswego County would see a reduction of nearly a 
million dollars next year alone. For St. Luke and Michaud, the proposed cuts would 
represent nearly $400,000 dollars out of operating budgets already stretched to their 
limits.

“Both St. Luke and Michaud have established “Advocacy Kiosks” in their lobbies offering 
residents, family members, staff and concerned citizens an opportunity to sign letters 
addressed to our elected State officials urging them to reject the Governor’s proposed 
cuts,” said Osetek. 

This effort is part of a larger statewide initiative spearheaded by the New York 
Association of Home and Services for the Aging (NYAHSA), an association of not-for-profit 
providers of aging and senior services.    

“Our seniors have worked, fought our wars and paid their taxes, and now they deserve to 
be treated with care, dignity and respect,” said Osetek. “By rejecting cuts to Medicaid, 
aging services and housing funding, our elected officials can help protect our most 
vulnerable New Yorkers during this volatile fiscal crisis.” 

To help show your support, you can stop at a kiosk located in the lobbies of either St. 
Luke Health Services in Oswego, or Michaud Residential Health Services in Fulton and sign 
a letter packet, both residences will mail the signed packets to the appropriate State 
official. 

You can also follow this link to the NYAHSA website and submit your support online: 
http://capwiz.com/nyahsa/state/main/?state=NY 

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