Statement of MSSNY President Dr. Charles Rothberg in response to NYS Senate Budget Proposal


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MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
865 Merrick Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590-9007
www.mssny.org
Communications Division
Telephone: (516) 488-6100

 

For Immediate Release
March 14, 2018

Statement of MSSNY President Dr. Charles Rothberg in response to
NYS Senate Budget Proposal

“We thank Senators Flanagan and Klein and the Senate Republican and Independent Democratic conferences for their support of a number of important measures in their one-House Budget proposal.  These include continued support for the Excess Medical Malpractice Insurance Program, additional support for Veterans’ Health care needs, and support for the continuation of the critically important services being provided through the Committee for Physician’s Health program.  We also thank them for opposing several problematic proposals in the Executive Budget that would reduce the ability of patients to continue to receive needed care from their physicians, including provisions that would expand burdensome  pre-authorization requirements for medications needed by patients covered by Medicaid, impose steep cuts for physicians participating in the Patient Centered Medical Home program, and inappropriately expand independent practice authority for nurse anesthetists.

We agree about the continuing need for aggressive efforts to address our heroin and opioid abuse epidemic.  New York physician leaders have been extensively involved in efforts to respond to this public health crisis.  At the same time, it is essential that as measures are developed there is a proper balance struck between efforts to address and prevent opioid abuse and assuring that prescribers do not face undue barriers so that their patients can receive the medications they need.  We look forward to continued discussions on all these issues as the Senate, Assembly and Governor seek to finalize a State Budget over the next 2 weeks.”

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Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.

 

Media Contact:
Roseann Raia
Communications / Marketing
Medical Society of the State of New York
516.488.6100
rraia@mssny.org