Politics on the Hudson

Both the New York State Nurses Association and AARP have issued news releases taking issue with the set up of the state’s Health Care Reform Advisory Committee, a panel that will work to help New York comply with and implement the federal health-care legislation. Gov. David Paterson on Tuesday named 37 organizations to the committee, including those that represent health-care providers, consumers, businesses, organized labor, local governments, health plans, health insurers and health-policy experts.

The governor left out some groups that should be at the table, such as the Nurses Association, the group said. President Barack Obama has recognized that nurses are “on the front lines” and an important part of reforming health care, according to the association, which has more than 36,000 members. The governor “doesn’t seem to have the same respect for nurses or a clear understanding of the vital role registered nurses play in patient care,” the organization’s release said.

“Without the expertise and ideas of bedside nurses who know how our state’s healthcare system works and how it could work better, how will New York translate federal healthcare reform into programs that provide all New Yorkers with better care at lower costs?” Tina Gerardi, a registered and CEO of the Nurses Association, asked in a statement.

AARP New York Director Lois Aronstein said in a statement that the governor should have named a representative of the group to the panel and hopes the governor will have older New Yorkers in mind when implementing the health-care reform law. AARP has more than 2.3 million members in New York.

“AARP is dismayed to see that the recently announced Governor’s Health Care Reform Advisory Committee did not include the largest organization representing the interests of New York State’s 50 plus population,” she said. “Considering that many of the new health care law’s provisions will directly benefit those over the age of 50, especially older persons and their families, the failure of the Governor to include AARP is very disappointing.”

The committee will advise the Governor’s Health Care Reform Cabinet, which is responsible for identifying deadlines for completing interim or final steps necessary to comply with the law; determining which provisions are mandatory and which are optional, and whether the state should participate in optional programs; deciding whether any changes are needed in state statute or regulations; communicating with the federal government, local governments, other states, health-care providers and others; and providing public outreach.

“Implementing federal health care reform is a complex task, and many decisions must be made by the end of this year,” Wendy Saunders, chairwoman of the cabinet and the governor’s deputy secretary for health, Medicaid and oversight.

These are the groups named to the Governor’s Health Care Reform Advisory Committee:

• 1199 SEIU

• AFL-CIO

• Business and Labor Coalition of New York

• Business Council of New York State

• Centerstate CEO

• Chamber Alliance of New York State

• Children’s Defense Fund

• Coalition of New York State Public Health Plans

• Community Health Care Association of New York State

• Community Service Society

• Consumer Directed Choices

• Empire Justice Center

• Family Planning Advocates

• Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency

• Greater New York Hospital Association

• Health Care for All New York

• Healthcare Association of New York State

• Hispanic Federation

• Medicaid Matters

• Medical Society of the State of New York

• Medicare Rights Center

• National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS

• New York Health Plan Association

• New York Immigration Coalition

• New York State Association of Counties

• New York State Association of Health Underwriters

• New York State Conference of Blue Cross Plans

• New York State Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare

• New York State Health Foundation

• New Yorkers for Accessible Health Coverage

• Office of the Mayor of New York City

• P2 Collaborative of Western New York

• Partnership for New York City

• Project CHARGE

• United Hospital Fund

• Visiting Nurse Service of New York

• Young Invincibles

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