Tentative deal reported on cuts to New York healthcare spending

New York Gov. David A. Paterson and legislative leaders have reached tentative agreements on major cuts to healthcare spending. Lawmakers and healthcare industry officials said the leaders had agreed to freeze the so-called trend factor, the cost-of-living adjustment made to Medicaid reimbursements for nursing homes, hospitals, and home care providers. The freeze, which would be partly retroactive, would save the state about $300 million, according to industry officials.