Kingston Hospital Underpaid by Medicare for 15 years

For about 15 years, Kingston and Benedictine Hospitals (now Health Alliance Hospital) have been underpaid by Medicare.  Northern Dutchess and Vassar Hospitals in Dutchess County receive about 25 percent more Medicare reimbursement for the same procedure.  This is an underpayment of about
$10 Million per year for Kingston's hospitals.  For 15 years, Kingston has lost about $150 Million.
What has this caused?

1)  Nurses and technicians get paid more at Northern Dutchess Hospital.  Nurses that hire and train
in Kingston often leave for jobs in Dutchess County.

2)  Dutchess hospitals attract more Medicare hospital admissions, nurses and doctors, while Kingston
loses medical expertise.

3)  Empire BlueCross has decided to drop Kingston hospital admissions for seniors, non-seniors and every age bracket, since BlueCross and Kingston Hospital cannot agree on a fair reimbursement schedule.  Why?  Because BlueCross wants to reimburse Kingston at a lower rate, which is consistent with the lower Medicare reimbursement rate of Ulster versus Dutchess Counties.  All Ulster County Government employees, who are covered by Empire BlueCross, cannot receive in-hospital treatment at Kingston Hospital. 

Our local hospital officials and some politicians have tried over the past 15 years to appeal this injustice, but they have failed to correct this unfairness, which almost destroyed our local hospitals.

Personally, I believe that this 15 years of Medicare unfairness deserved to be fought with a lawsuit by the Kingston / Health Alliance / WMC Hospital.  By now, we people of Ulster County would have gotten the attention of news outlets, government agencies.and the court system.

Kingston and Ulster County Residents PLAYED FOR FOOLS AGAIN

OPEN GOVERNMENT ALERT -- Today on Kingston Community Radio, I asked Mayor Steve Noble if he could enumerate the items in his negotiated Sales Tax agreement with County Executive Mike Hein. He said that he could not, because the NY State Comptroller in Albany had to approve of the agreement before the citizens of Kingston and Ulster County could know what is in the agreement. Also, I specifically asked Mayor Noble if there were any clauses dealing with the removal of Catskill Mt.Railroad trains from Kingston in the agreement. He said that he could not give that information. We the citizens of Ulster County are being "PLAYED - ie. played for FOOLS" again. OPEN GOVERNMENT IS A FARCE IN KINGSTON AND ULSTER COUNTY

DON'T BLOW THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY ULSTER COUNTY

Two Big Things Have to Happen SOON to Save the Polar Express (40,000 visitors) in Kingston

1)  Ulster County needs to accept a Proposal from the Catskill Mt.Railroad with or without a larger
Railroad Partner, such as Rail Events for example.

The Catskill Mt.Railroad has the trains, the volunteers and the experience running the local Polar Express events.  A larger railroad partner would be welcomed by the Catskill Mt.Railroad.

2)  Ulster County needs to sign a short term renewal contract with the Catskill Mt. Railroad to extend
the contract beyond the expiration of the current contract on May 31st.  The Catskill Mt.Railroad needs to have this short term contract in place by May 31st so they can begin planning and booking the Polar Express Event in Kingston.

WATCH THE LATEST "Save The Train 2" video on Kingston Time Warner Public Access TV Channel 23 every night at 7pm.

Ulster County Legislature:   Let's not blow this Economic Development Opportunity

The Top Priority for Ulster County Government is Economic Development

The Top Priority for Ulster County Government is Economic Development.  There is some appearance of progress in Ulster County, but a deeper look shows a property tax disaster coming.  The loss of stores at the Hudson Valley Mall and the loss of buildings at TechCity will cause tax assessment reductions for the mall and TechCity.  For we residents, this will cause large tax increases in our town and city property tax and school tax for the City of Kingston, Town of Ulster, Town of Hurley and the Town of Esopus.  I suggest an Ulster County Task Force responsible for Economic Development.  This Task Force should shine light on the efforts, failures and warnings of not paying attention to Economic Development.  Saving money by moving and consolidating county offices is good, but it does not solve the property tax disaster caused by the closing of mall stores and the demolition of TechCity buildings.  We need much more Ulster County leadership in bringing a branch of the Nano College to TechCity.  We need much more Ulster County Leadership in developing a 12-month daily tourist train attraction from Kingston Plaza to the Ashokan Reservoir.  These 2 action items would go a long way toward healing our county economy and tax situation.

 

Mike Hein's Report Card is Two A's and One C (Economic Development)

Mike Hein's Report Card

A --- Budget and Taxes

A --- County Services & Efficient Use of Resources

C --- Economic Development

Let's expand on the reasons for the C in Economic Development.

1)  Tech City (former IBM Kingston property) --- Mike has not spent much political capital, ie. He has not beat the drums, stuck his neck out or even publicly mentioned Tech City in his radio appearances and Chamber of Commerce speeches.  He has failed to successfully connect with Governor Cuomo for help in bringing companies into this perfectly located property.  The failure to
market and use Tech City has hurt our county's economy and our residents.

2)   Mike continues to align himself with a strictly "green" agenda that accepts grant money for trails, while ignoring the Huge Potential of 12-month Tourist Trains from Kingston Plaza to the Glenford Dike at the Ashokan Reservoir.  Kingston Area businesses and taxpayers would greatly benefit from the proven potential of the tourist railroad in drawing tourists from NYC, Albany, downstate, NJ, MA, CT and other areas for the highly popular "Polar Express".  This short train ride to the Kenco area could easily be expanded to go to the edge of the Ashokan Reservoir to shuttle tourists, including handicapped, senior citizen, to enjoy the sights.  However, the key is to start the train ride at the Kingston Plaza where tourists can enjoy the many restaurants, hotels and amenities of the the Kingston area.  The Kingston Plaza location has the potential for bringing in a developer to build
a hotel at the sight of the former parking garage on North Front Street in Uptown Kingston.  A new train station could be contructed near Mac Fitness in the Plaza, looking up toward the Pike Plan on Wall Street in the Stockade district.  The potential is enormous.  But right now, Mike Hein wants to rip up the tracks from Kenco to the Ashokan Reservoir.  This removal of the railroad tracks in favor of another hiking trails would snuff our the above dream and economic development boom for Kingston.

12-Month Daily Train Service from Kingston Plaze to the Ashokan Reservoir

Many Kingston and Area businesses and residents are for 12-month daily Train Service from the Kingston Plaza to the Glenford Dike at the edge of the Ashokan Reservoir. As many of you know, Ulster County Executive Mike Hein has proposed a lengthy "walk-around" from Kingston to the Hurley Flats to allow a trail to co-exist with the Rail for about 2 miles. If Mike Hein can propose this walk-around, Area businesses and residents can continue to propose additional walk-arounds for the trail access to the Glenford Dike, so as to convince Mike Hein to allow the tracks to remain in place to the Glenford Dike and to allow the huge money-maker of 12-month daily Train Service from the Kingston Plaza to the Glenford Dike at the edge of the Ashokan Reservoir.  The tourists from everywhere will get off the Thruway at our Exit 19 and spend money and enjoy themselves riding from the Kingston Plaza to the Ashokan Reservoir on the Train, daily, 12-months per year.  Let's be reasonable. This is huge.

Can You Imagine the Potential for Drawing Tourists Off of the Thruway at Exit 19?

It is a fact that the CMRR has served Ulster County quite well bringing in thousands of tourists to Kingston and Ulster County.  CMRR has also pointed us to the future, showing us that CMRR could easily run regular tourist trains every 2 hours, (10am, 12pm, 2pm.4pm, ...) year round.  Can you imagine the potential for drawing tourists off the Thruway to Exit 19 to the Kingston Plaza Train Station? 

Ulster County Wages are low - Stop building Trails, Bring Developers Here

Ulster County Residents:  Please call Mike Hein at 340-3636 and Shayne Gallo at 334-3902 and tell them that our low wages in Ulster County and the City of Kingston are unacceptable.  Tell them that we need to encourage developers to come to the county and the city.  Tell them that we need less emphasis on biking/walking trails and much more emphasis on bringing in high tech and manufacturing employers.  See the bad report on Ulster County wages below.  http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-news/20150316/ulster-weekly-wages-7th-of-10-hudson-valley-counties-trailing-delaware-greene-counties

Let's Take the Train to the Ashokan Reservoir

On Kingston Community Radio, on Wed.,Feb.25th, Walt Maxwell, Ray Rice and I discussed the recently released Catskill Mt.Railroad Business Plan for Kingston to the Glenford Dike at the edge of the Ashokan Reservoir. Let's all call Mike Hein at 340-3636 and tell him to not rip up the 5 miles of track between Hurley Mt.Road near Kenco to the Glenford Dike at the Ashokan Reservoir. Tell him we are all looking forward to taking the CMRR train from the Kingston Plaza to the Reservoir. The business plan says that the train to and from the Reservoir could be running daily every 2 hours, ie. 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm. Isn't this plan exciting? Mike, please don't rip up the tracks to the Glenford Dike. Listen to the audio file of my chat with Walter and Ray by going to the Facebook page for Kingston Community Radio or KCR and listen to the 3 audio files posted on Feb.27th.

Use "Trail-Walk-Arounds" when necessary, but do not rip up the railroad tracks

Let's Clear the Haze. Mike Hein and his staff used a wide-ranging "Trail-Walk-Around" to get the trail to the other side of Route 209 without building a bridge. Therefore, between Hurley Mt.Road and the Glenford Dike at the Ashokan Reservoir, Use "Trail-Walk-Arounds" if there is not room for the trail next to a section of railroad track. Most logical people would agree that under no circumstance do you rip up the railroad tracks.

The Catskill Mt.Railroad deserves to win the Pride of Ulster County Award

I agree that Catskill Mt.Railroad deserves to win the Pride of Ulster County Award from the UC Chamber of Commerce.  Let all Ulster County Businesses tell Ward Todd that we want to give the Pride of Ulster County Award to the Catskill Mt.Railroad.  I want to urge local citizens and businesses to get involved and take back our Ulster County business climate.  Some local environmentalists and trail advocates are destroying are business climate by sending the message that Ulster County politicians and leaders are not fighting and pushing back on the unreasonable demands of environmentalists and trail advocates.  Ulster County's average wages are $13,000 lower than Dutchess County.  Ulster County's wages are going to remain low if we citizens and businesses don't get involved and tell our politicians and leaders that we want them to push back against environmentalists and trail advocate and to allow private developers and the Catskill Mt.Railroad people to help grow our local economy and grow our local wages.

Ulster County - Let's bring in Larger Firms for Higher Wages

Today on KCR, talking with Ward Todd, I mentioned that the average wage for Ulster County residents is very low, about $13,000 less than Dutchess County residents.  I told Ward that we need to do more to attract medium to large companies to the county, using the SUNY Ulster College's Start Up NY designation at TechCity (former IBM site). I mentioned that we are emphasizing small business and tourism development almost exclusively.  This results in low average wages compared to Dutchess County.  We have very visible evidence of our low Ulster County wages........Look at the Hudson Valley Mall where one by one stores are closing at the mall.  The lack of Ulster County and City of Kingston having an aggressive plan for attracting medium to large companies to the area is hurting the lives of our residents, especially our young people looking for good-paying jobs for raising a family.  The Start Up NY program at SUNY Ulster-TechCity offers
10 years of no income taxes for companies moving from out of state.  Why don't our leaders aggressively use this Start Up NY designation to bring medium and large companies to the area?

On Air Suggestions to Mike Hein - Meet with CMRR & Use Trail Walk-Arounds

On Friday, Jan.23rd, Mike Hein and I discussed the Catskill Mt.Railroad. In the 4 short audio links below, I asked Mike to let Ward Todd broker a meeting with him and the Catskill Mt.Railroad. Also, I asked Mike why Trail Walk-arounds could not be used between the Hurley Flats and the Glenford Dike to accommodate the Trail, similar to the extensive Walk-around planned for the Trail between Kingston and the Hurley Flats. Why rip up the tracks between the Hurley Flats and Glenford when you don't have to?


To listen to 4 audio links, go to FACEBOOK and enter KCR or Kingston Community Radio.  Then,
Scroll Down to Ralph Mitchell January 26, 2015 posting.

County Executive Hein continues to harass the Catskill Mt.RR.

County Executive Hein continues to harass the Catskill Mt.RR.  He has "blinked" a little from our enthusiastic support for the RR.  He has agreed to the 2 mile run from Kingston Plaza to Hurley, but he wants to rip up the tracks from Hurley to Mt.Pleasant (ie.around the Ashokan Resevoir) for a trail.  The RR wants to continue to volunteer to referbish the 6 miles of track from Hurley to Glenford, which will allow Adult Dinner Rides and transportation for tourists from Kingston Plaza to the Ashokan Reservoir.  Tourists would park at Kingston Plaza, take the train to the Reservoir, and come back to Kingston Plaza to get their cars, to local hotels and restaurants and spend money in Kingston.

 

 

The fight goes on.  The following Freeman article describes the latest on Ulster County's court harassment of CMRR from County Legislator Dave Donaldson's point of view.

 

 

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-news/20150121/legislator-says-ulster-county-is-trying-to-bleed-tourist-railroad-dry

Niagara Water Sale is Needed to Keep Kingston Water Rates from Going Up 32 percent

I urge city residents and Town of Ulster Water users to call Shayne Gallo, Mike Hein, Supervisor Quigley, your Alderman and tell them if the Niagara Water Sale deal fails and your water bills go up 32 percent, you are not going to be happy that the local politicians didn't fight to keep

Niagara Bottling here.  SEE THE FREEMAN LINK BELOW.


http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-news/20141017/kingston-water-department-says-rising-rates-justification-for-niagara-bottling-plan

Mike Hein embraces the success of the Catskill Mt.Railroad Events

Due to the overwhelming success of Thomas the Train and Polar Express and due to the monetary benefits to Ulster County businesses from train riders, the county executive has committed to keeping the Kingston Plaza to Hurley Mt.Road tracks in place.  However, he currently wants to truncate the rails 5 miles short of the Glenford Dike at the edge of the Ashokan reservoir.  Railroaders at the Catskill Mt. RR say their volunteers can easily repair this 5 mile stretch.  They say that Glenford is the right stopping point for now, since the extra uphill 5 miles from the Hurly Mountain Road to Glenford gets people up the long hill to the trail and the great views at the flat plateau at the reservoir.  From Glenford to Mt.Pleasant, there are storm related washouts at Phoenicia and Cold Brook that will take county help to repair.  Presently, Catskill Mt. Railroad runs a second scenic 5 mile round trip from Mt.Tremper to Boiceville. 


There is no good rationale for not completing the railroad tracks to Glenford.  This extra 5 miles will allow the Catskill Mt.Railroad to run "Dinner Train Rides to the Reservoir"  year round, bringing in more money for the county and its businesses.  The extra 5 miles will also allow the transport of bikers and their bikes on the train from Kingston to Glenford.  People could take the train up the hill to the reservoir and bike the trail up there and then ride the bike down the hill back to Kingston where their cars are parked.  The key point is to encourage tourists to drive to Kingston, park at the Kingston Plaza, go to the reservoir trail, and then take the train, or bike or walk back to Kingston where their cars are parked.  Kingston has the amenities that tourists want and enjoy.  Let's bring in the tourists and money to Kingston to benefit our residents and businesses.

To Mike Hein - Polar Express Not Interested in Sites Away from Kingston

On the Kingston Plaza section of the tracks, I want to refute Mike Hein's statement that the wildly successful Thomas The Train & Polar Express events could be held at Mt.Tremper.  After showing event planners the sites away from Kingston, CMRR has documentation that they are not interested in the sites away from Kingston, because there are not enough businesses to cater to the event visitors. The event planners indicated that the Kingston Plaza railroad track location is ideal for these events. Train visitors get the added benefit of visiting "Historic Kingston" with all its unique amenities. Please join us in concluding that we should Keep the Kingston Plaza railroad tracks in place so our local businesses can continue to thrive from the CMRR events which are on track of drawing 30,000 visitors per year to the Kingston Plaza railroad tracks.

WGHQ - KCR - Pushing Back on Hein's Plan to Rip up Kingston Plaza RR Tracks

This morning, I talked with Mike Hein about how I disagreed with his plan to rip up the Kingston Plaza railroad tracks.  I mentioned 2 points. 1)  The City of Kingston residents and businesses will definitely be hurt by Hein's plan to rip up the Plaza tracks and end the Thomas the Train, Peanuts and the Pumpkin rides and the Polar Express events and 2) the many visitors from out of town and in town to the Plaza train events may include business leaders who begin to like the Kingston area and the train and may want to move a business with jobs to Kingston.  However, they will hear local news and people talk about how local leaders, Mike Hein and Shayne Gallo want to rip up the Kingston Plaza tracks and effectively end the fantastic train events, such as Polar Express.  Why would businesses want to locate here when they find out that Mike Hein and Shayne Gallo are making plans that will Hurt City of Kingston businesses and residents?  Let's tell Mike Hein and Shayne Gallo that we want to keep our railroad tracks at the Kingston Plaza.
 

Headline - Ulster County Lawsuit against Wildly Successful Business

Headline ----- Ulster County Government Lawsuit against Wildly Successful Tourist Train at Exit 19 on New York Thruway.  ------- This is real good for attracting business to Kingston and Ulster County.

Catskill Mt. Train Rides - Kingston & Ulster County's new visible, high power tourist attraction

Congratulations to the Catskill Mt. Railroad on the resounding success this past weekend of attracting over 4000 riders to their Thomas the Train ride at the Kingston Plaza railroad tracks.  Kingston has finally found a high power, visible Tourist attraction that will continue to draw new people and new money to Kingston and Ulster County, year-round.  Let's urge Mayor Gallo and County Executive Hein and the Ulster County Legislature to get On-board the tremendous Tourism Attraction.