Maybe Medicaid

From yesterday's NY Times:

In what would be a major boost to Gov. David A. Paterson’s efforts to close the largest deficit in state history, New York could gain as much as $5 billion in extra Medicaid financing as part of the stimulus package being drawn up by Congressional leaders and President-elect Barack Obama, Senator Charles E. Schumer said on Sunday.

The $5 billion would represent roughly one-third of the combined budget gap that Mr. Paterson must close for the balance of the fiscal year that ends on March 31 and the following fiscal year. Mr. Schumer, who is a lead negotiator of the package, said that the program as currently drafted would provide states with a total of $80 billion to $100 billion in additional help for Medicaid, apportioned according to existing formulas.

Keep fingers crossed. Medicaid's quickly becoming a shadow of its former self, yet it is (for better or worse) the lifeblood of most hospitals and nursing homes.