Last week, New York State enabled access to the state’s best cancer centers when passing the annual state budget.
Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul signed the New York State Budget for FY 2023 that includes a key provision which will allow more New Yorkers from underserved communities access to care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) and other NCI-designated cancer centers in the state.
The legislation, which goes into effect on January 1, 2023, will require all New York Medicaid managed care plans and qualified health plans offered on the New York State of Health Exchange to contract with any of the state’s six NCI-designated cancer centers that are willing to participate.
In response, Carol L. Brown, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Health Equity Officer at MSK, released the following statement:
“For far too long, underserved communities across New York have had limited or no access to some of New York’s best cancer hospitals, known as National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers. These centers offer the most cutting-edge clinical care available and the inability to access care at these institutions contributes to disparities in cancer outcomes. Last week, our state took a tremendous step forward to enhance access to New York’s best cancer centers.
“Memorial Sloan Kettering applauds Governor Hochul and leaders in the state legislature – especially Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright and State Senator Liz Krueger – for fighting to ensure that the most vulnerable New Yorkers can be treated at cancer centers across our state that are recognized by the NCI as being at the forefront of cancer diagnosis and care. Independent studies have shown that patients treated at NCI-designated cancer centers, such as Memorial Sloan Kettering, have better outcomes across multiple diagnoses and better five-year survival rates. Now, more New Yorkers will be able to access our leading-edge clinical trials and highly specialized cancer care. This is a great step forward in reducing cancer disparities and achieving health equity.
“Memorial Sloan Kettering looks forward to continuing to work closely with lawmakers in Albany and across New York to reduce health disparities in the fight against cancer.”
Contact:
John Connolly
Email: connolj@mskcc.org
Phone: 917-816-6551