Governor Andrew Cuomo wrapped up his visit to Puerto Rico with a presentation on how the island can save money on health care costs. Zack Fink filed the following report.
SAN JUAN - The New York delegation got to the heart of its visit to Puerto Rico Tuesday with a roundtable discussion focused on lowering rising health care costs.
"New York went through this same fight. We went through it about a year ago," said Governor Andrew Cuomo. "This is not unique to Puerto Rico."
Because Puerto Rico is commonwealth and not a state, it receives a lower reimbursement rate for Medicare and Medicaid.
68 percent of the island's residents rely on government health care.
"Puerto Rico paid the same, so we are entitled to recieve the same money," said Alejandro Padilla Garcia, the governor of Puerto Rico.
Last year, New York applied for a Medicaid waiver from the federal government, which allowed it to change the formula for reimbursements. It ultimately saved the state $8 billion.
New York officials who were instrumental in securing that waiver will provide assistance to Puerto Rico so it can make the same request to the federal government.
"This is a special relationship. It's deep. It's genuine. It's historic. It's also current. And we want to be there for Puerto Rico," Cuomo said.
The United States Congress must pass legislation to allow Puerto Rico to make any structural changes to its debt.
Officials say the goal of the delegation's visit was to raise aware of Puerto Rico's debt crisis and put the issue on President Barack Obama's radar.
"I am confident that President Obama and the governor appreciate the serious nature and the complicity of dealing with the fiscal and health problems," said Rep. Charles Rangel, whose district covers parts of Manhattan and the Bronx.
Puerto Rico's debt is $72 billion, so even some cost savings through Medicaid may not make that much of dent. But as one official put it, it's a start.