Senator Marty Golden, Member of the Senate Health Committee, Joins WITH Healthcare Experts to Determine Best Methods to Reform Medicaid

Albany- Senator Marty Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn), joined with other members of the Senate Health Committee and health care experts earlier this week during a public roundtable to discuss the most effective and efficient methods to reform New York State’s Medicaid program.

“We have to stop talking about it, and start implementing, serious systematic changes and for the benefit of all New Yorkers, our hospitals, nursing homes and other components of our health care system. If we do not redesign the system and put cost efficient mechanisms in place, the financial impact to our State and the quality of care available to New Yorkers will be devastated,” said Senator Marty Golden.

Among the recommendations addressed during the public roundtable discussion were proposals for the improvement of care delivery and quality, opportunities for savings, reduction of current costs, medical malpractice reform and qualifications for Medicaid eligibility.

Although New York State has the nation’s most expensive Medicaid program, it ranks just 21st in patient healthcare outcomes. This coupled with a $10 billion State deficit and recently enacted federal health care reform demand that New York take action.

Citing a recent report published by the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), President of HANYS Daniel Sisto emphasized the enactment of government shared service initiatives, leveraging the state’s purchasing power for all goods (including prescription drugs) and maximizing state owned assets through public-private partnerships in an effort to achieve savings and generate revenue.

Other recommendations were proposed by Executive Vice President of the Greater New York Hospital Association David Rich, President of Independence Care Systems Rick Surpin, Executive Director of New York Association of Counties Stephen J. Acquario, and President and CEO of New York State Health Foundation James R. Knickman.

The published whitepapers presented and discussed during today’s roundtable can be found at: www.nysenate.gov/committee/health