O'Mara questions health budget panel: nursing shortage, CDPAP, prescription drug costs, Lyme disease

Описание: Albany, N.Y., February 10—State Senator Tom O'Mara (R,C-Big Flats), Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee, is again joining legislative colleagues in Albany this week to continue a monthlong series of joint Senate-Assembly hearings on Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed 2026-2027 New York State budget.

On Tuesday, the hearing is examining the governor’s specific proposals for Health/Medicaid.

The day’s first panel consisted of NYS Department of Health Commissioner James V. McDonald, NYS Medicaid Director Amir Bassiri, and NYS Department of Financial Services Acting Superintendent Kaitlin Asrow, who testified before the panel and faced questioning from legislators, including O’Mara, on a range of concerns and issues.

O’Mara highlighted several areas of challenge:

1.) how the state can better address a statewide nursing shortage, especially in rural regions, through the establishment of an Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact;

2.) reports of a lack of referrals to Independent Living Centers through the state’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP);

3.) an update on the Drug Take Back Stewardship Program, a new law O’Mara sponsored (Chapter 120 of the Laws of 2018) that established an industry-funded, statewide pharmaceutical drug take-back program, advancing a “product stewardship” approach to the challenge of disposing of unwanted medications;

4.) prescription drug costs and state-level actions that impact independent pharmacies;

5.) the need for greater state involvement in research and treatment initiatives to combat Lyme and Tick-borne diseases.

Senator O'Mara has served as the Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee since 2021.

"We welcome this year’s budget hearings, at this critical time, for direct input and critique on a range of policy areas that will decide the short- and long-term future and strength of our local communities and economies.” said Senator O’Mara, who represents the 58th Senate District comprised of Chemung, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, and Yates counties, and a part of Allegany County.

Read more and find the full hearings schedule on www.omara.nysenate.gov.