Statement by HANYS President Daniel Sisto on Governor Eliot Spitzer's State-of-the-State Speech
01/04/2008 — ALBANY, NY - “HANYS supports and welcomes the Governor’s continued commitment to provide health coverage for all children, and his plan to address physician shortage problems that many areas of the state are experiencing. Both initiatives are essential elements necessary to move our health care system into a new era where all our citizens have access to the care they need.

“The Healthy Kids program also holds great promise for a healthier New York by emphasizing healthier foods and exercise in our schools and communities.

“We also agree completely with the Governor that Medicaid payments for outpatient and ambulatory services, including emergency room care, are too low and woefully out of date, and have been for more than a decade. As a direct result of these underpayments, too few New Yorkers are receiving the care they need to avoid otherwise preventable hospitalizations. The issue, then, is not that we are spending too much for inpatient care, but rather we are not spending enough on the outpatient care necessary to prevent hospitalizations.

“Overall, the speech articulated the right goals. What will be necessary to attain those goals is the commitment of all parties—the Governor, Legislature, health care providers, and insurance companies—to work together to craft solutions that focus not on any individual interests, but on the best interests of the 19 million New Yorkers whose health and well-being are in our collective care.”

The Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) is the only statewide hospital and continuing care association in New York State, representing more than 550 non-profit and public hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies, and other health care organizations.

Note: Following is a summary of the results of HANYS’ May 2007 survey of physician shortages across New York State.

Physician Shortage Survey Results:
Regional Breakdown

(Data collected in May 2007)

The ten Central New York hospitals surveyed reported the following shortages by specialty:
•   Primary care – 102 physicians needed
•   General surgery – 43
•   Specialty surgery – 8
•   Orthopedics – 9
•   Ear, nose, and throat – 6
•   Urology – 3
•   Psychiatry – 10
•   TOTAL – 181

The 13 Hudson Valley hospitals surveyed reported the following shortages by specialty:
•   Primary care – 114 physicians needed
•   General surgery – 9
•   Specialty surgery – 9
•   Intensivists – 8
•   OB/GYN – 6
•   Psychiatry – 3
•   TOTAL – 149

The ten Long Island hospitals surveyed reported the following shortages by specialty:
•   Primary care – 161 physicians needed
•   Specialty surgery – 35
•   Radiology – 6
•   Orthopedics – 6
•   TOTAL – 208

The ten North Country hospitals surveyed reported the following shortages by specialty:
•   Primary care – 19 physicians needed
•   General surgery – 9
•   Urology – 5
•   Psychiatry – 4
•   Orthopedics – 8
•   Ear, nose, and throat – 3
•   TOTAL – 48

The 11 Rochester Region hospitals surveyed reported the following shortages by specialty:
•   Primary care – 104 physicians needed
•   General Surgery – 5
•   Urology – 2
•   Intensivists – 3
•   Endocrinology – 5
•   TOTAL – 119

The ten Southern Tier hospitals surveyed reported the following shortages by specialty:
•   Primary care – 17 physicians needed
•   Psychiatry – 5
•   Dermatology – 2
•   TOTAL – 24

The six Western New York area hospitals surveyed reported the following shortages by specialty:
•   Primary care – 25 physicians needed
•   General surgery – 2
•   Orthopedics – 5
•   Neurology – 4
•   TOTAL – 36

The 12 Capital District hospitals surveyed reported the following shortages by specialty:
•   Primary care – 12 physicians needed
•   General surgery – 22
•   Specialty surgery – 5
•   Orthopedics – 7
•   Neurology – 12
•   OB/GYN – 12
•   Gastroenterology – 3
•   Anesthesia – 7
•   TOTAL – 80

Statewide Total (Excluding New York City) – 845