Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Plattsburgh) announced that two of his constituents were appointed to the New York State Rural Health Council –former Congressman Bill Owens and Citizen Advocates CEO James Button.

“Efforts to improve public health face unique challenges in the North Country because of its expansive area and limited access to health care facilities,” Jones said. “Since 2017, the Rural Health Council has aimed to address the health concerns of rural communities and find solutions that will increase access to family medicine and emergency services. As local residents, Mr. Owens and Mr. Button have seen firsthand the health care challenges in our region and are welcome additions to the council.”

“I am honored to be selected to serve on the Rural Health Council by Assemblyman Jones,” said Former Congressman Bill Owens. “My close to thirty years of experience as Counsel for Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital and Elizabethtown Community Hospital as well as by Board service with the UVM Health Network will allow me to assist my colleagues in strengthening health care in the North Country.”

“I am both honored and humbled to be entrusted with this opportunity,” said James Button, CEO of Citizen Advocates.“This gives Citizen Advocates and those we support a crucial seat at the table to advocate for the unique and urgent healthcare needs of our rural communities. We're further grateful to Assemblyman Jones for his leadership on advancing the legislation to establish this council, and the meaningful impact it will have on healthcare providers across the North Country."

Previously Jones authored and passed a law to establish the Rural Health Council in New York State (Ch. 419 of 2017) to advise the commissioner of health on rural health matters, create a biennial report and advocate for rural communities.

Owens and Button were recently appointed to the council. Owens is a veteran who formerly represented the state’s 21st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives and currently is a partner at Stafford-Owens Law Firm and works as a senior advisor in Public Policy and Regulation at Dentons, a business law consulting firm. Button is the CEO at Citizen Advocates, a nonprofit health care network specializing in behavioral health and lifestyle care, where he has served in various leadership roles during his time with the organization.