But with costs rising rapidly, state spending on Medicare and Medicaid isn’t translating into a greater quality of care.

Now that the presidential election is over, New York State Medicaid Director Jason A. Helgerson and Medicare Rights Center President Joe Baker discussed what its outcome will likely mean for Medicaid and Medicare in New York State and what the future holds for the residents of western New York at “The Road Ahead for New York: Post Election Commentary and Discussion on Medicaid and Medicare,” on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012 in Buffalo and on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012 in Syracuse, NY.

In his role as Medicaid director and executive director of the New York’s Medicaid Redesign Team, Helgerson leads Governor Andrew Cuomo’s efforts to fundamentally reshape the state’s Medicaid program in order to both lower costs and improve health care quality.

As president of the Medicare Rights Center, a national nonprofit consumer service organization, Joe Baker directs the Center’s efforts to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling and advocacy, educational programs and public policy initiatives.

“The Affordable Care Act and the New York Medicaid Redesign Team’s Action Plan are expected to lead to significant changes for Medicare and Medicaid programs in New York, especially in terms of care delivery, quality and cost,” Health Foundation President Ann F. Monroe said. “With this event, our goal was to provide the entire community with an opportunity to discuss our ever-changing health care environment and get a glimpse of what Medicaid and Medicare in our state might look like in the future.”

To view the fact sheet and presentations from the events, please click on the links below:

The Road Ahead for New York Fact Sheet

Jason Helgerson - A Plan to Transform the Empire State's Medicaid Program

Joe Baker - The Medicare Debate - Version 2.103

For more information on redesigning New York's Medicaid program, please visit the Redesigning Medicaid website.

To watch the video recordings of both events, please click here.