Assemblymember Pamela J. Hunter (D-Syracuse) announced that she helped pass this year’s Assembly budget proposal, which makes key investments to strengthen New York’s health care system and rein in rising medical costs.

“If a person becomes sick, their focus should be on getting better, not the bills that’ll rack up if they go see a doctor,” said Hunter. “Health care costs are exorbitant and have left too many New Yorkers unable to get even the most basic level of care. With this year’s Assembly budget proposal, we’re making it easier for New Yorkers to get the care and medicine they need without the fear of going bankrupt.”

In keeping with its ongoing commitment to affordable health care, the Assembly passed a budget proposal that restores $691.1 million in Medicaid funding, $190.2 million of which would go toward restoring the Medicaid claim cuts, as well as $53.8 million in funding for public health programs. The proposal also restores a $137.8 million cut to the Indigent Care Pool and provides $222 million to restore the 2 percent rate increase for hospitals and the 1.5 percent rate increase for nursing homes. Additionally, the plan provides $25 million to restore long-term care, rejecting the executive proposal that would make it easier for Managed Long Term Care plans to reduce patient service levels.

The Assembly budget also provides $31 million in funding for pharmacy reductions, including $18.7 million to restore the existing “prescriber prevails” provisions across all drug classes and $12.3 million to reject the executive’s proposal to limit coverage for over-the-counter drugs and increase their copayments.