Local News: March 5, 2024

- Cayuga Health among hospitals affected by nationwide healthcare cyber hack -

Cayuga Health and Arnot Health are feeling the effects of a recent cyber hack. The attack affects healthcare organizations across the country. WENY TV reports hackers broke into Change Healthcare’s systems crippling the billing systems for many hospitals and pharmacies. Change is affiliated with United Healthcare system. Senator Chuck Schumer is calling for the Health and human Services Department and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to give affected hospitals advances on payments until the systems are upgraded and functioning again.

- Ithaca City School District may freeze its tax rate increases for 3 years -

Ithaca voters will get vote on a proposal that would freeze the city school district’s tax rate for three year. The Ithaca Voice reports that the Ithaca City School District is making the proposal because it anticipates the city’s overall tax base will increase this year. Residents can give feedback abou the budget process online or in person. The school board meeting schedule is here. Feedback can be submitted here. 

- Corning-Painted Post school district makes changes to internal auditing after state comptroller finds oversight errors -

The Corning-Painted Post school district is making changes to its internal auditing process following a report from the state comptroller. The state audit was conducted late last year. WSKG Public Radio reports the state comptroller’s office concluded that the district properly process over $17 million dollars. The report found that payments to GST BOCES were audited by a BOCES employee and that was a conflict of interest. The district’s superintendent says changes to their procedures are already being made to correct the problem.