Medical Society Comments on Governor’s State of the State Address

For Immediate Release 
January 11, 2023

Medical Society Comments on Governor’s State of the State Address 

Statement Attributable to:
Parag Mehta, MD
President, Medical Society of the State of New York 

“The Medical Society welcomes Governor Hochul’s ambitious agenda to address the gaps in New York’s health care safety net, including efforts to enhance our mental health care infrastructure across the state.  We applaud the Governor’s stated plans to enhance the availability of primary care for our patients enrolled in various health insurance programs, including by increasing reimbursement amounts in Medicaid which remain among the lowest in the country even after last year’s State Budget investments.  The Medical Society also praises her commitment to public health through proposals to discourage the use of cigarettes and flavored tobacco products, to help prevent a new generation of New Yorkers becoming addicted to nicotine products

“We remain concerned, however, with the continuing push to address New York’s critical health care shortages through expanding the scope of practice of various less-trained health care providers, in lieu of advancing measures to retain and attract skilled physicians to help fill these shortages.  Despite the State’s reputation as a world class health care treatment destination and its many important consumer protections, New York is regularly ranked at the bottom of states to deliver patient care attributable in significant part to lack of competitive compensation and excessive litigation risk and costs.  It is imperative that we reverse this trend through the enactment of policies which make New York a welcoming environment for skilled physicians.

“We look forward to working with the Governor and the State Legislature towards the enactment of policies that will help ensure New Yorkers can access the timely, quality care they need and deserve.”

# # #

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 | Manager, Communications
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Avenue
Westbury, NY 11590
516.488.6100 x302 | [email protected]