Stony Brook Medicine Leaders Advocate in Washington, D.C. for Critical Federal Health Priorities
Stony Brook Medicine’s Executive Vice President William Wertheim in addition to Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Stony Brook University Hospital Carol Gomes traveled to the nation’s capital the week of April 4 to attend the annual American Hospital Association (AHA) meeting and advocate for federal support on key healthcare priorities essential to protecting patients, preserving access, and sustaining academic medical centers like Stony Brook.
During their visit, Wertheim and Gomes met directly with U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Rep. Nick LaLota, Rep. Laura Gillen, and senior legislative health staff representing Rep. Andrew Garbarino and Rep. Tom Suozzi. The discussions centered around the need for strong federal investment in healthcare and research, as well as protecting public hospitals and academic medical centers from crippling funding cuts.
Stony Brook Medicine leadership began each Hill meeting by urging members of the New York congressional delegation to oppose devastating Medicaid cuts proposed for consideration in the upcoming federal reconciliation bill. “The totality of the proposed cuts to Medicaid would have a devastating impact on our institution—ranging from $92 Million to $221 Million—significantly impairing our ability to deliver high-quality care to the most vulnerable patients of Long Island,” said Gomes. “It’s essential that congress reject these proposed cuts and rather, enact federal policies that strengthen and empower public hospitals like Stony Brook to continue delivering high-quality care to our most vulnerable patients, while also supporting the critical roles we play in medical education, research, and community health.”
Among the other critical topics discussed during the Hill visit included: opposing site-neutral payment cuts; passing a bill this year to amend the current Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH) calculation method; and supporting robust federal research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). “President Trump’s newly unveiled ‘skinny budget’ calls for a 40% cut to NIH research funding—an action that threatens to stall or eliminate access to critical, potentially lifesaving treatments for patients in urgent need,” said Wertheim. “It is imperative that Congress act to prevent these funding cuts which would significantly disrupt the progress of biomedical research, slowing down breakthroughs in understanding, preventing, and treating a wide range of diseases.”
The Hill visit by Stony Brook Medicine leadership is part of a comprehensive federal advocacy effort led by Stony Brook University’s Office of Federal Relations in Washington, D.C., to advance Stony Brook’s federal priorities. The Office of Federal Relations will continue to work daily with the New York congressional delegation, federal agencies, the Administration, and Stony Brook’s healthcare and research association partners to advocate for critical federal support for public hospitals and academic medical centers.