Your Opinions

Tenney’s ‘alternative’ Medicaid numbers

Congresswoman Tenney was interviewed by WKTVUtica about repealing the ACA (Obamacare). She is now promoting that interview, uncorrected, in her official newsletter.

Tenney told WKTV, “Oneida County’s share of Medicaid is $57 billion in Fiscal ‘18. That’s a huge amount of money that’s mostly paid for by the county taxpayers.”

Wait! $57 billion is 200 times the Oneida County budget! Tenney’s Medicaid number is high by $56,950,000,000. If all those commas and zeroes are confusing, Ms. Tenney, try rounding it to… $57 billion.

This math error is like describing a 5-foot 4-inch woman as “one mile tall.”

Who gave Ms. Tenney her 2018 budget number? Not Oneida County, where 25,000 people may lose health coverage if the ACA is repealed.

Promoters of the GOP health care plan shouldn’t make up “alternative facts” to poison taxpayers against Obamacare. Isn’t that fake news?

Total Medicaid spending in NYS was $54.5 billion in 2013. That year the program provided health care for 5.3 million New Yorkers, including 60,000 Oneida County residents.

By spreading false information in an interview, Tenney makes Medicaid look HUGELY unaffordable. Congresswoman Tenney, please check your facts before you speak. We constit- uents shouldn’t have to check them for you.

The sources I consulted in checking the numbers include:

Tenney’s interview: www. wktv.com/clip/13179709/tenneyon-american-health-care-act. The quote occurs at 0:55.

Oneida County budgets for 2014 and 2016.

NYS Dept of Health “Number of Medicaid Enrollees by Category of Eligibility by Social Service District - Calendar Year 2013.”

NYS Office of the Comptroller ““Medicaid in New York: The Continuing Challenge to Improve Care and Control Costs,” March 2015

Helping those in need

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18, NIV

Every day, Karing Kitchen realizes how blessed it is to have so many supporters who take action and assist with the needs of our community. Fromthe United Way and their supporters, Food Bank CNY, Oneida Area Council of Churches, the Gorman Foundation, Catholic Charities, CAP, Oneida Daily Dispatch, NYE Automotive Group, Community Foundation CNY, and so many more - because of your continued generosity, Karing Kitchen continues to remain open to all regardless of residence, age or income, to advocate, improve and enhance the quality of life.

Karing Kitchen provided over 19,000 meals for the 2016 year, including meals for shut-ins, not including the families assisted for Christmas. Over 2,000 referrals were made to help individuals becomemore food secure (being able to provide food for their families). Each year we see the increase in need not only in our program but other programs as well. We cannotmeet their needs without your assistance.

March and April are the months that Karing Kitchen asks you to look and see what youmay be able to assist us with. Perhaps it is a sleeve of bowls, a package of noodles, a can of olives. Whatever your contribution is, together with others will ensure that we are able to meet the needs of our community. Just assisting us in raising awareness of struggles in our community also can lead to self-awareness among our community’s families.

One such issue is the homeless families in our county who may be afraid to discuss what is going on in their lives; afraid of being judgedas their fault, their choice. They work but have other barriers to affordable housing. Our community may not be aware that we do not have a shelter in Madison County. We are asking for action. Tweet about what you are doing, share a Facebook page, and/or send an email. Together, we are a community. Together, we make a difference in the lives we touch. Together, we stand stronger. Together let’s start the conversation and break down the barriers.