Olean doctor takes message of concern to Capitol Hill

Dr. Muhammed T. Javed, Chairman of the Upper Allegheny Health System Board of Trustees, joined other hospital and health care leaders who met with New York State elected officials at the Capitol of the United States in Washington to discuss current issues related to the provision of medical care in the state.

One topic hospital leaders emphasized was supportive funding and tax relief to help create financially viable facilities. With more than 75% of New York hospitals in financial distress due to declining Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements, this is creating worsening financial problems. Several changes to reimbursement and other policies were discussed to show the impact on hospitals’ long-term financial success.

“Health care is in an unusual situation right now, and it’s not just here locally, but other hospitals in New York are feeling similar pressures,” said Javed, who is also vice president of the Health Care Association of New York State (HANYS). “These leaders continue to face labor shortages as well as tax and reimbursement traps. »

The board-certified nephrologist who has practiced in Olean and Bradford, Pa., for nearly 30 years said the meeting was important to raise awareness and gain support from political leaders to ensure our communities will have access to quality health care. quality.

Among those in attendance were U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. ; U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-23rd District; and other members of Congress from New York.

By addressing the workforce shortage and the policies that affect it, health systems can properly staff their facilities to continue meeting the needs of their communities, Javed noted. Additionally, with the rise in violence against healthcare workers, creating a safe working environment for employees was another crucial topic brought up during the discussion.

Health care leaders also discussed ways to create effective solutions to other barriers, such as increasing access to behavioral health services to provide care for mental health patients across the state , strengthening innovation and transformation to improve overall access to healthcare.

“Part of our role as hospital and health care leaders is to advocate for our hospitals and shine a light on laws that negatively impact health care,” Javed said. “We all have the same goals: improving access to our communities and ensuring the financial sustainability of our health systems for future generations. »