HEALTH CARE
As President of the McManus Midtown Democratic Association, I have long been
involved in community health care issues. At the Association, we had forums
with Roosevelt Hospital and St. Clare’s (now St. Vincent’s Midtown)
to inform the community about health services, especially for seniors and the
uninsured. With the help of the Ryan Center, we had blood-pressure screenings
to bring awareness about hypertension, high cholesterol, and other precursors
of heart disease.
It is a simple, regrettable fact that the cost of health care
continues to skyrocket, far outpacing increases in incomes or the rate of inflation.
According to most statistics, one in four residents of New York City under
the age of 65 lacks health insurance. This is not only a tragedy; it is a
crime, and it is getting worse.
The health of our society determines the health
of our economy, our productivity, and of our place in the world. A sick society
ceases to function. We are
reaching a critical point in the city and in our country where something
must be done. Unfortunately, few viable solutions to the current situation
emanate from Washington, D.C. That is why New York City must take the situation
in hand and create local solutions, as is being done in other places.
Through
my appointees to the advisory boards of Manhattan's municipal health facilities,
I will work in every community in Manhattan to advocate and work
for people in the following areas:
Drug Access and Re-importation
I strongly support drug re-importation from safe supplies around the world.
I will lobby our local, state and federal officials to create legislation that
will allow prescription medications to be purchased legally in New York City.
Free and Low-cost Care
Our city government must face the fact that low-wage jobs do not provide for
basic necessities, especially health care. We must embark upon a campaign to
educate the public about the many public health programs that are currently
up and running. These programs are vital to low-wage earners and others who
are not provided or cannot afford health insurance. As Borough President, I
will also lobby legislators to extend health insurance eligibility to those
New Yorkers without coverage.
Public Hospitals
The Health & Hospital Corporation provides 45% of the care that is delivered
to the uninsured in New York City. As Borough President, I will work alongside
unions to lobby city and state officials to prevent layoffs. Just as important
is finding funding so that vital services like radiology, lab testing, and
radiation therapy are not further cut. Unfortunately, when these programs are
cut, they are often never replaced.
Free Screenings/Prevention and Education Programs
Prevention and knowledge are the best medications, which is why tests for
asthma, osteoporosis, cancer, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, and more are so
vital. As Manhattan Borough President, I will take a community-based approach
to finding ways to let residents learn about the public options available
to them. I will also seek to boost public/private initiatives, so that
testing and screening is more visible in all neighborhoods in Manhattan
and information is disseminated more widely.
Diet and Exercise
Talking about diet and exercise will be a centerpiece of my approach to health
care. Eating well and staying active are the keystones to preventing obesity,
diabetes and a host of other diseases. As Borough President, I will set
up a task force to examine how we can get our city, particularly our youth
and seniors, moving again, losing weight, being healthier, and feeling
good about themselves.
AIDS/HIV
We must acknowledge that New York continues to have arguably the largest
HIV/AIDS community in the nation. New York should be seeking new and creative
ways to deliver the message, particularly to youth, that protection is
a necessity. The city must also support programs that will reduce rates
of HIV infection among intravenous drug users.
Crystal
Not since the explosion of crack has the city seen such an alarming development
in drug use. The city must support an aggressive education campaign targeting
both adults and youth about the dangers of this party drug that is now
being blamed for a stark increase in STDs, particularly HIV.
Prescription Price Abuse
Where there is vulnerability there are predators. This is unfortunately illustrated
by egregious price-gouging by drug vendors in some of the city’s
poorest neighborhoods. This type of opportunism should be illegal and punished
accordingly.
Mental Health
In New York City alone, there are approximately 450,000 adults and children
who suffer from chemical dependencies, developmental disabilities, mental
retardation, or mental illness. One of the great failures of our healthcare
system is inadequate funding and treatment for these issues, whether they
are defined as disabilities or dependencies. This is true in prisons, in
hospitals, and in the general population. As Borough President, I will
advocate on behalf of strengthening and expanding our current means of
treating mental health and hygiene issues. We must make early intervention
with children below the age of three a high priority. I will
meet with
experts in organizations such as the Early Intervention Coordinating
Council to discuss how we can strengthen public-private partnerships.
In addition,
any discussion of mental health and hygiene issues can not ignore New York's
homeless population and the degree to which these issues may contribute
to the problem of homelessness. In the end,
as with physical health, study after study shows that prevention is the
best
medicine.
