NYSNA’s Director of Public Policy Leon Bell recently testified before the New York State Assembly’s Standing Committee on Health. He spoke on behalf of NYSNA’s 40,000 registered nurses and the communities they represent. Bell shared our union’s perspective on key problems in the structure and funding of New York’s Medicaid program. Medicaid ensures health care for more than 7 million New Yorkers, or about one third of the state’s population. It is also the predominant form of health coverage for persons with low-wealth, and therefore an essential component of the state’s health care system. You can read his speech below.

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

Hearing on Medicaid Program Efficacy and Sustainability

November 1, 2021, 10:00 AM

Testimony of the New York State Nurses Association

My name is Leon Bell, and I am the Director of Public Policy at the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA).  NYSNA represents more than 40,000 registered nurses across New York State for collective bargaining and is a leading proponent of universal, high quality and equal health coverage for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, disability, socio-economic status, or ability to pay.  On behalf of NYSNA, I thank the Committee for the opportunity to offer our perspective on some key problems in the structure and funding of New York’s Medicaid program.

I am going to focus our comments on the issues of inadequate funding for Medicaid and what we consider to be serious structural problems in the way that this funding is distributed, with a focus on inequalities in access to and quality of care.  Medicaid provides health care for more than 7 million New Yorkers, or about one third of our population.  It is also the predominant form of health coverage for lower income populations, and thus plays an essential role in the state’s health care system.

1. Eliminate the Medicaid Global Cap – Fund Medicaid in accordance with the needs of New Yorkers, not based on artificial budgetary caps

As noted above, Medicaid is a major component of the health care system and is the primary source of health care for about 35% of New Yorkers, with current enrollment of more than 7.1 million.  As a safety-net program, Medicaid plays a vital role in providing coverage to low-income communities that could not otherwise afford to access care.  Medicaid funding is also essential to the operation of hospitals and other providers, particularly those that provide services to low-income populations.

Click here to read the entire testimony.