MSSNY Ready to Work with Governor and Legislature on Medicaid Budget Gap


MSSNY Seal
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
December 3, 2019

MSSNY Ready to Work with Governor and Legislature on Medicaid Budget Gap

Need to Work Towards Proposals to Rein in System Costs that Also Protect Patients’ Ability to Receive Timely and Quality Care

Comprehensive Medical Liability Reform IS Healthcare Reform

December 3, 2019, Westbury, NY— Physicians across the state of New York stand ready to work with the Governor and the Legislature to address our enormous Medicaid Budget gap.  However, we must be careful to make sure steps are not taken to further impair patient access to care by creating additional incentives for physicians NOT to participate in New York’s Medicaid program.

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation Report demonstrates that New York remains having one of the lowest Medicaid to Medicare physician payment ratios in the country.

“We suggest one reform from the original Medicaid Redesign Team be revisited,” said Art Fougner, MD, president of the Medical Society of the State of New York.  “NY should enact comprehensive medical liability reform.  New York’s physicians and hospitals continue to incur, by far, the highest liability costs in the country, far surpassing more populous states such as California and Texas.”

In fact, a recent report by  Leverage Rx showed that in 2018, New York once again had the highest cumulative medical liability payouts of any state in the country, 85% more than the state with the second highest amount (Pennsylvania); the highest per capita liability payment; and, 22% more than the second highest state (Pennsylvania).

“Medical liability reform is an essential component of efforts to reduce unnecessary healthcare spending. Defensive practices increase healthcare costs without improving outcomes,” said Dr. Fougner.  “While estimates vary as to the extent of these costs, multiple studies demonstrate many physicians feel compelled to perform low-value additional tests, consults and procedures in order to defend against a possible future lawsuit. More than budget neutral, medical liability reform would result in real budget dollar savings. In short, liability reform is healthcare reform.”

The Medical Society of the State of New York stands ready to work with all parties to work towards responsible proposals to rein in system costs that also protect our patients’ ability to receive timely and quality care.

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About the Medical Society of the State of New York
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.

MSSNY Contact:
Roseann Raia
Communications / Marketing
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, New York
516-488-6100 ext 302
rraia@mssny.org

 

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