Assemblyman Kevin Byrne (R,C,I,SAM,ROS-Mahopac) is pleased to announce that Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) has recently appointed him to serve on New York State’s Council on Health Care Financing.
The council was originally established to examine, study and develop a new system of financing general hospitals, focusing particularly on inpatient care. It has also reported on a number of significant state reforms over the years, including the development of the Health Care Reform Act (HCRA) in 1996, as well as various amendments to HCRA in succeeding years. The council continues to work with the Legislature to advance an associated array of healthcare system reforms.
“I’m privileged to join as a member of the Council on Health Care Financing, and am grateful to Leader Will Barclay for this opportunity,” said Byrne. “I look forward to bringing my knowledge and experience as the ranking minority member of the Assembly Health Committee and as a former healthcare professional to help further the council’s mission. Healthcare spending on public programs already accounts for the largest portion of our state’s budget. For many, the effects these public programs have on peoples’ lives is immeasurable. Likewise, the financing and plans provided through the private sector, in many cases, obtained through years of carefully thought-out collective bargaining with employers, also affords over 10 million New Yorkers access to quality health care that they rightfully want protected.”
According to the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), New York’s hospitals and health systems, only a portion of the overall healthcare industry, already generates $176 billion in economic activity (10.1 percent of the state’s entire GDP). This includes 865,000 jobs, and amounts to more than $27.1 billion in taxes.
“I look forward to working with colleagues on the council as we seek to pursue new safe and responsible ways to expand access to quality healthcare by increasing flexibility and payer options, recruiting and retaining talented health care staff, and utilizing new technologies to support things like telehealth and telemedicine.”
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Assemblyman Byrne represents NY’s 94th Assembly District, which includes portions of Putnam and Westchester counties. Byrne is the ranking minority member of the Assembly Committee on Health, serves as chair of the Assembly Minority Program Committee.