A member of the Assembly Minority Task Force on Medicaid, Assemblyman David G. McDonough (R, C, I – Merrick) is a strong advocate for improving health care across New York State. In fact, as part of his involvement on the task force, McDonough has traveled the state to meet with both providers and patients in order to improve the state’s health care options. Accordingly, the Assemblyman applauds many of the proposals included in the State Budget in regards to health.

“Not only does this budget address many of the health care concerns New Yorkers are faced with, but it also managed to control the typically out-of-control spending that is often indicative of State Budgets. Although the health parts of the budget are addressing our current economic conditions by reducing spending in some areas, the services for the people of our state are not being compromised. It is a win, win,” stated the Assemblyman, who also serves on the Assembly Committee on Health.

The parts of the budget relating to health and mental hygiene were among the first budget bills to be agreed upon and passed by both houses during this year’s budget cycle. With McDonough’s support, these bills, A.9804-C and A.9808-C, were passed on March 31 and April 1, respectively, and include nearly $16 billion in General Fund appropriations as well as over $59 billion in All Funds. Highlights of the health and mental hygiene budget include:

• Primary and Preventative Care: Instead of solely outfitting inpatient hospital care with the state’s resources, the budget will instead help to increase primary, preventative and other outpatient care.
• Doctors Across New York: Another way to increase preventative care is to address the growing need for physicians across our state. This new program will help a new doctor, who stays in New York State, pay off their extensive medical school loans. Upon a review of this program by the Department of Health, my colleagues and I are interested in expanding this program to include dentists, midwives, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
• Prescription Discounts: To help New Yorkers, especially our seniors, cover the cost of their prescription medications, the budget creates a new prescription drug discount card for low-income residents who have no drug coverage. However, this new program is only offered to New Yorkers between the ages of 50 and 64 (who earn less than $35,000, if single, and $50,000, if married), excluding millions of residents who would benefit from this program. That is why I am determined to continue to expand this program.
• Indigent Care Reforms for Hospitals: To improve accountability between the state and hospitals, the budget includes a series of reforms to help ensure that when a hospital is reimbursed for caring for an uninsured patient, the state reimbursement funding is delivered.
• Educating Doctors on Today’s Prescriptions: With so many new prescriptions on the market every day, it is difficult for physicians to keep up. To ensure prescription drugs are properly administered, the budget requires the State Health Department to launch an education program on prescriptions, including each drug’s scientific information and cost.
• The budget also contains a variety of programs to increase funding for key programs such as Child Health Plus, HIV/AIDS services, family planning including prenatal consultations for low-income mothers, and school health clinics.