MSSNY Applauds Senator Schumer and other U.S. Senators on New Bill to Use Government’s Purchasing Power to Increase PPE Production and Distribution

For Immediate Release
November 18, 2020  

MSSNY Applauds Senator Schumer and other U.S. Senators on New Bill to Use Government’s Purchasing Power to Increase PPE Production and Distribution  

Statement Attributable to:
Bonnie Litvack, MD
President, Medical Society of the State of New York

“We thank Senator Schumer and the several other US Senators who have advanced legislation to increase the production and distribution of critically needed personal protective equipment (PPE) such as N-95 masks.  Legislation such as this will help to make PPE more readily available to our community physician practices so that they can continue to provide the care needed by their patients.

“Many physician offices across the state of New York are straining to meet their patient care needs due to a lack of available and affordable PPE.   This challenging dynamic was highlighted in a USA Today-New York article earlier this week.  A recent physician survey conducted by the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) noted that nearly 2/3 of the physician respondents indicated that they are at least “sometimes” finding it difficult to obtain needed PPE.  Over 40% of the physician respondents have indicated that it takes them at least 4 weeks to get their PPE from when they order it; while 53% of the physician respondents said the cost of PPE has gone up by at least 25% compared to pre-pandemic levels, and nearly 1/3 have said the cost has gone up by more than 50%.  Of greatest concern, 1/3 of the physician respondents indicated that the lack of available/affordable PPE has adversely impacted their ability to care for their patients.

“The survey results indicate that further government intervention is urgently needed to help make PPE more widely available to our community physician practices.  We look forward to working with Senator Schumer and our New York Congressional Delegation on measures such as that announced today to help expand this availability so that patient care is not disrupted or delayed due to these shortages.”

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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
865 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, New York
516-488-6100 ext 302 
rraia@mssny.org