Healthcare

The health care system in New York City, as in the rest of the country, is in a chronic state of crisis.  A reported one million City residents are uninsured and out-of-pocket expenses are becoming unaffordable even for many of those with insurance. Many New Yorkers are foregoing much-needed health care.  Ever-rising health insurance costs threaten the competitiveness of businesses, negatively impact wages and consume an increasing portion of the City’s budget.  Small businesses and independent contractors face especially difficult challenges finding affordable coverage. Hospitals face rapidly escalating costs and stagnant revenue.  There is insufficient primary care in many neighborhoods.  AIDS and HIV continue to take a heavy toll.

OPM investigations into health care issues, such as the impact of hospital and emergency room closures and health care disparities among New York City neighborhoods, have broken new ground and are being used by advocates and policymakers in their efforts to improve services and rationalize the healthcare financing and delivery system.  For example, changes in health provider reimbursement designed to improve the availability of and access to primary care, a key recommendation in an OPM report, are being adopted at the State level.  

OPM continues to monitor these issues as well as soaring rates of asthma and diabetes, the City’s Emergency Medical Services, mental health disparities, environmental health issues, access to healthcare for people with disabilities, the provision of care by safety-net providers including the City’s Health and Hospitals Corporation, the availability of high-quality healthcare for returning veterans, and national and state initiatives to reform our healthcare system.