Council issues health care crisis report

As the hospitals and health care remain a hot topic, the City Council has released &#8220A Prescription for New York City Health Care Crisis,” which has set guidelines for improving the existing health care system in the city.
&#8220There is no question that health care in New York City has reached a crisis point. While I recognize that it is critical to address the problems facing our city's hospitals, I also believe that it is equally critical to ensure that the specific health care needs of our communities are met,” said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. &#8220City, State and Federal agencies need to work together to build a comprehensive plan for a more effective health care system for New York City. We need to reform he system as a whole so we can guarantee that all New Yorkers have access to quality, affordable health care.”
The City Council Task Force, which was created in response to the Berger Commission and is led by Councilmember Helen Sears, created the report. It focuses on addressing issues related to improving access to health care, bankruptcies and poor fiscal situations of hospitals, HMO reform, protecting patients and encouraging primary care and improving quality health care in all communities.
&#8220Closing more hospitals - without providing new sources of care or fixing the inherent problems in our health care system - threatens to leave millions of New Yorkers without primary and emergency care they need and deserve,” Sears said. &#8220The Commission should consider the importance of health care services in each of these communities, and the unique services these individual hospitals provide to New Yorkers.”
The specific recommendations being made by the Task Force to provide quality care in all communities are to:
• Establish effective health system planning agencies in New York State.
• Develop a regulatory system for free standing medical centers.
• Make solving the health care access crisis a government priority.
• Lobby the Federal government for health care reform.
• Expand enrollment in New York State's government insurance programs.
• Expand coverage under Family Health Plus (FHP), and increase services provided by Healthy New York.
• Create a citywide electronic health record system.
• Require cultural competence training for physicians and staff.
&#8220New York City is already in the middle of a healthcare crisis,” Councilmember James Gennaro said. &#8220This report outlines the actions necessary to provide all New Yorkers with the healthcare they need.”
A complete list of all of the Task Force's recommendations can be seen by going to the City Council's website, which is www.nyccouncil.info.