The conference room was standing-room-only for the Access to Health Care Coalition meeting Nov. 16 at the White Plains Crown Plaza. Its members stirred the waters, proposed solutions and gave multiple perspectives for the health-care issues facing Westchester and Putnam counties.
The 47 million uninsured Americans often dominated the presentations.
Elizabeth Benjamin, director of the Health Care Restructuring Initiatives Community Services Society, gave an informative overview of current access proposals. She broke down the variety of strategies being experimented with throughout the country, listing pros and cons for each one, and explaining how these options could apply to New York as reform solutions. She advocated the idea of an “American” solution, in which coverage for immigrants is pioneered in New York.
“I think that the time is right for serious health-care reform, for not just Westchester and the Hudson Valley, but all of New York,” said Benjamin.
The breakfast event was hosted by Lillian Jones, regional advocacy director of the American Cancer Society. Opening remarks were also given by Peter Slocum, vice president of advocacy at the American Cancer Society, Alan Lubin, co-chair of the Business and LABOR Coalition of New York (BALCONY), Dr. Joshua Lipsman, Westchester county commissioner of health, Loretta Molinari, Putnam County deputy commissioner of health and Rosemary Calderalo of the United Way 2-1-1 Hudson Valley.
According to Lipsman, 6 percent of Westchester children under the age of 18 are without health care, and of 19 to 64 year-olds, 17 percent are uninsured and only 14 percent receive Medicaid.
“The greatest Barrier to getting help is finding it,” said Calderalo.
Also present at the forum were representatives from insurance providers Group Health Incorporated and Oxford Health Plans. Though the representatives did not participate in the scheduled remarks, during the Q&A session the Oxford representative Sheryl Manasse stood up to challenge doctors remarks that health insurance providers were the source of problems in health care.
“They”™re doing the best they can with a system with holes,” said Manasse.
Aiofe Quinn, director of human resources at Reader”™s Digest, gave a corporate perspective of the health care history. She pointed out that costs have increased disproportionately for small private businesses.
“Employers and government must make a joint effort,” said Quinn.
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Quinn made it clear the most distressful aspect for businesses, concerning medical benefits, is the fact that in a business where profits remain consistent health care costs increase. This forces an increase in production in order to keep up with benefit costs, and when it can”™t be done there are cutbacks.
Dr. Michael Rosenberg, president-elect of the Medical Society of the State of New York and a lieutenant colonel in United States Army Reserve Medical Corps, said, “Caring for the uninsured is the physician”™s dilemma. In trauma care, there is need for complete care rather than simply acute-care. There can be no correct cure with no follow through.”
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Rosenberg pointed to the policy of forced follow-ups in the military with good results, pinpointing the importance of follow-up care. He made the point that health care must be kept on the burner, asserting a lack of health care will soon be found to be the leading cause of death.
“We have very advanced medicine but it cannot be accessed by all,” said Rosenberg.
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