Governor Kathy Hochul signed the New York State Budget for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 that will allow more New Yorkers from underserved communities access to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) and other NCI-designated cancer centers in New York state.
“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,” Carol L. Brown, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Health Equity Officer at MSK said. “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.”
This legislation will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, which will require all New York Medicaid managed care plans and qualified health plans to contract with the other six NCI-designated cancer centers willing to participate.
Many are hopeful for this new piece of legislation and look forward to the impact this action will have on the community.
“MSK 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,” Brown said. “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.”
MSK has ranked among the top two cancer hospitals in the country and is dedicated to their patients, educating the community and discovering effective strategies to combat, control and cure cancer.
“MSK looks forward to continuing to work closely with lawmakers in Albany and across New York to reduce health disparities in the fight against cancer,” Brown said.
