Statement From NYSHealth on the Passage of Federal Health Care Reform

The United States House of Representatives last night passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) and companion legislation to reform the nation's health care system and extend access to care to millions of Americans. NYSHealth released the following statement from its President and CEO James R. Knickman on the passage of this legislation:

"The passage of this legislation is a landmark moment for America's health care system and it promises to bring numerous benefits to the State of New York. However, the ultimate success of the legislation will depend greatly on the work done to implement its reforms, and we must work hard as a State in the coming years to implement it well.

"The strengths of the legislation are numerous: it will significantly expand coverage to more New Yorkers through Medicaid and through new subsidies to low-income families making less than 400% of the Federal poverty level; it will improve access to primary and preventive care; it will increase support for community health centers, and prevention and wellness programs; it will help strengthen the health care workforce overall; and it will spur significant reform in the insurance market. Together, these reforms will bring significant and lasting benefits to the residents of New York.

"The legislation is not perfect, and there are clearly areas where it can be improved. Those improvements will come in time and I hope they emerge on a bipartisan basis. For now, New York must begin the task of implementing the reforms contained in the legislation. Only by getting all parties in New York working together to institute these reforms will we be able to meet the true potential of Federal health reform for the benefit of New York State. We need to engage consumers, providers, insurers, employers, and state officials in an ambitious implementation process that should expand coverage, make health care more affordable, and improve our prevention and public health capacity. This is an exciting set of prospects."