PULSE 3/14/2025: Physicians Gather in Albany on March 11 to Advocate For Their Profession and Patients

MSSNY thanks the 200 physicians, county medical society executives and other physician advocates who came to Albany to participate in MSSNY’s Physician Advocacy Day this week. We heard from numerous key legislative leaders and health policy experts on the myriad of healthcare challenges facing our healthcare system, as well as their great esteem for the medical community in its continued advocacy to ensure needed quality care for their patients. Speakers included:

• Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins
• Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris
• Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt
• Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay
• Assembly Insurance Committee Chair David Weprin
• Senate Health Committee Chair Gustavo Rivera
• Senate Insurance Committee Chair Jamaal Bailey
• Dr. Doug Fish, NYS Department of Health Deputy Commissioner
• Mark Kissinger, Senior Advisor to the Assembly Health Committee Chair Amy Paulin

We also thank the many attendees who took the opportunity while in Albany to meet with their regional Senators and Assemblymembers on key issues impacting patient care delivery. These visits were particularly important as both the Senate and Assembly were developing and adopting their respective “one-House” Budget proposals this week that frame the debates that will ensue with the Governor as they work towards a State Budget to be adopted by April 1. Importantly, the legislative one-House Budgets deleted many of the objectionable items that were proposed in the Executive Budget. (see related story in Advocacy Highlights below)