The Assembly Health Committee held five hearings in December on the New York Health Act, a bill to establish publicly funded universal healthcare in New York. From Mineola to Buffalo, New Yorkers offered their views on the current health insurance system and the proposed legislation.
The hearings received great press coverage across the state. Below is a selection of coverage including news and opinion pieces. The final rally and hearing will be held in Albany on Tuesday, January 13, 2015. To attend or testify, please contact my office using the reply form here. For photos and more from the completed hearings, please see the single payer tag on the website.
Opinion & Letters
“N.Y. Health Act would give control to doctors, patients,” by Assembly Member Richard N. Gottfried & Senator Bill Perkins, Albany Times-Union, December 18.
“Universal Healthcare in NY Can’t Wait Any Longer,” by Assembly Member Barbara Lifton, Ithaca Journal, December 3.
“Health care: Insurers’ limited networks distort the marketplace,” by Robert Kaprove, MD, Buffalo News, November 30.
“Letter: State Should Approve NY Health Act,” by Roger Chenez, Buffalo News, December 3.
“Why We Need Universal Healthcare in NY,” by Ellie Donnally, Syracuse Post-Standard, December 10.
“View: Ensure health coverage for all New Yorkers,” by Elizabeth Rosenthal, Journal-News, December 12.
“Fixing Healthcare Means Fighting for People’s Rights,” by Ken Hall, Times Herald-Record, December 13.
“Another Voice: Single-payer system would improve health care,” by Jessica Bauer Walker, Buffalo News, December 16.
“Letter: NYS could model single-payer plan,” Newsday, December 17.
General Coverage
“NY To Debate Single Payer Health Coverage,” by David Robinson, Albany Business Review, November 12.
“Setting the Agenda: Health,” by Ashley Hufpl, City & State, November 25.
”Connections: Single Payer Healthcare,” WXXI Rochester, December 8 (1 hour radio program)
“Gottfried Continues Upstate Single Payer Push,” by Ashley Hulpfl, City & State, December 9.
“Capital Tonight”, Time Warner Cable News Albany, December 9 (video)
“Richard Gottfried on Single Payer,” interview with Morgan Pehme, City & State, December 12 (video).
“Why Some Doctors Support Single Payer,” Crain’s Health Pulse, December 16.
“Northern NY Assembly Members Disagree on Proposed Single-Payer Healthcare Bill,” by Timothy W. Scee II, Newzjunky.com, December 17.
Local Hearing Coverage
Syracuse:
“Is NY ready for single-payer health care? Proposal to be discussed at Assembly hearing in Syracuse,” by James T. Mulder, Syracuse Post-Standard, December 3.
“State Lawmakers Are Considering a Plan to Create a Single Payer System Where the Government Pays for Healthcare Costs,” Time Warner Cable News, December 4 (video).
Universal Healthcare Bill Up for Discussion in NYS Assembly,” WSYR-TV, December 4 (includes video)
“Lawmakers Hold Hearings on Government-Run Healthcare System,” by Katie Gibas, Time Warner Cable News, December 4 (includes video).
“State lawmaker pushes for single-payer health care system in New York,” by Ellen Abbot, WRVO Radio, December 5.
“Health Care for Everyone the Goal of Single-Payer Proposal Hearings Around NYS,” By Chris Bolt, Sean Farrell, & John Smith, WAER Radio, December 5.
Rochester:
”Supporters of universal health care make their case in statewide Legislative hearings,” by Michelle Faust, Innovation Trail / WXXI, December 8.
“Supporters call for universal healthcare plan in NY,” by Sean Lahman, Democrat and Chronicle, December 8.
“Single-payer Healthcare Meeting” , WHAM 13 ABC News, December 8.
Buffalo:
“Advocates to push for universal health care at hearing in Buffalo,” by Tracey Drury, Buffalo Business First, December 9.
“Patients, health advocates argue on behalf of universal health care,” by Tracy Drury, Buffalo Business First, December 10.
“Public Hearing on New York Universal Health Care Act,” by Heather Ly, WGRZ Channel 2, December 10.
“Hearing to Push for Universal Healthcare in New York,” WKBW – ABC 7, December 10 (includes video).
“Single payer for health care gets a hearing in Buffalo,” by Henry Davis, Buffalo News, December 11.
NYC & Long Island:
“Heads up: Insurance hearings spotlight health costs,” by the Editorial Board, Newsday, November 30.
“Health insurance kvetch-fest coming to NYC,” by Irina Ivanova, Crain’s, December 15.
“Single Payer Healthcare Bill Gets Wide Support,” by Irina Ivanova, Crain’s, December 16.
“Will New York Get Government-Run Universal Healthcare? New Yorkers Show Support,” by Annie Wu, Epoch Times, December 16.
“Assembly Health Committee chair pitches universal health care in Nassau,” by Robert Brodsky, Newsday, December 17.
