Beverly Grossman, CHCANYS' Director of Policy, testified at a joint Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means Legislative Hearing on the health and Medicaid sections of the 2013-14 New York State Executive Budget on Wednesday, January 30.
In her testimony, Grossman lauded Governor Cuomo for his support of community health centers, demonstrated most recently in the 1115 Waiver submitted by NY State to the federal government, and recognized State leadership for making health system reforms to reduce costs, improve health status and quality of care in New York. Grossman also expressed concern about ambiguities in the 2013-14 Executive Budget appropriations. The Executive Budget includes undefined “buckets” of funding and broadens the authority to the Commissioner of the Department of Health to review, allocate and change funding after the passage of the budget.
New York’s FQHCs and CHCANYS proudly support the following policy proposals:
The Executive Budget’s proposed $54.4 million for the Diagnostic and Treatment Center (D&TC) Indigent Care Pool;
Initiatives to strengthen the primary care workforce, including the MRT Workforce Recommendations included in the Executive Budget and the Primary Care Service Corps and Doctors Across NY programs; and
Continued funding for community health centers serving migrant and seasonal farm workers and their families.