Current Issues

Healthcare Reform

High-quality, affordable health insurance is an essential element of a successful healthcare system. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) extended insurance coverage to 22 million Americans, including significant increases in Medicaid eligibility, but recent attempts to repeal the ACA threaten to leave many without proper care. CUIMC is committed to informing policies that ensure all individuals receive comprehensive insurance coverage and healthcare.

NIH Funding

Federal investment in medical research is key in furthering medical advancements. The largest source of federal research funding comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and NIH-funded research has led to many of the major advances that keep Americans healthy. Recent federal budget constraints could limit research programs, reduce the number of scientists and support staff employed in the sector, and slow medical advancement.

Executive Actions on Immigration

Among the concerns caused by executive actions regarding immigration are potential impacts on the ability of healthcare institutions to deliver patient care, provide health education, and support medical research. CUIMC is dedicated to supporting improvements in health care, access to providers, breakthroughs in medical research, and equitable health for all patients regardless of their backgrounds.

Current Legislation

CUIMC supports A.6820 (Gunther) – S.4611 (Murphy), which would provide tax credit incentives to clinical preceptors providing invaluable educational experiences and mentoring to medical and allied health professions students at New York State academic institutions. Educational opportunities in clinical settings are vital to developing physicians with the knowledge, skills, and competence necessary to practice medicine in a complex and changing healthcare environment. Physician preceptors in those settings educate and mentor medical students, providing practical experiences across a range of medical specialties, and helping guide students’ career trajectories. Enactment of this legislation will provide a clear incentive to clinical preceptors in New York State to educate, train and mentor students enrolled in New York’s medical schools and health professions programs and allow our institutions to continue expanding enrollment to meet the growing demand for high-quality healthcare.

The medical center also supports A.3126 (Gottfried) – S.2546 (Hannon), which would require that the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) pay 100 percent of eligible public hospitals medical assistance and uninsured patient losses. Under current statute, NYSDOH is “authorized” rather than required to pay “up to” 100 percent of such payments. The New York State Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) program is intended to reimburse hospitals for costs incurred in providing care to Medicaid beneficiaries and uninsured patients. While the State has historically fully funded the DSH match, NYSDOH has recently suggested that it might limit State matching funds to SUNY hospitals to $150 million which, with the 1:1 federal match, would result in a net loss of $115 million to the SUNY academic medical centers, deeply affecting both hospital and medical school operations. Enactment of this legislation will assert the State’s commitment to covering the DSH match, and ensure that SUNY hospitals are fully reimbursed for services provided in caring for the most vulnerable New Yorkers.