New York Gov. David Patterson

Those affected most by New York Gov. David Patterson’s proposed billion-dollar budget cuts are pushing back and protesting in the streets.

The governor’s emergency deficit-reduction plan, announced this week, calls for a $572 million cut to Medicaid and other health care programs and a $1.2 billion cut next year. These funds provide the majority of funding for long-term care services and cuts will likely have a dramatic impact on both consumers and workers.

In a recent New York Times story, long-term care leaders suggested it would be premature to start cutting so deeply when Congress might be close to passing a stimulus package that includes assistance to states for Medicaid.

“We’re two months away from a new administration coming to Washington in which there’s a clear indication that they intend to help,” Daniel Sisto, president of the Healthcare Association of New York State told the paper.

Greater New York Hospital Association and Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union signaled their opposition, suggesting lawmakers look elsewhere to close the budget gap.

Gov. Patterson said in the Times on Monday, “There’ll be protests, and because of the drastic nature of the cuts, those who protest will have very valid points, for which I don’t have any answer, other than ‘What’s your idea?’”

Lawmakers will convene in Albany Nov. 18 for a special session to close the current $1.5 billion budget gap and a $12.5 billion deficit in the budget that ends March 2010.

Are you in New York and wondering how this will affect you? Comment below.

Check back next week to see the impact on New York’s direct-care workers in our series examining state budget cuts and their affect on long-term care across America.