Op-Ed | As healthcare costs surge, lawmakers should focus on reforming rather than expanding costly government programs amNewYork

"New York City and Long Island are becoming increasingly unaffordable, with minority-owned businesses and their customers among the hardest hit. Rising costs are straining nearly every aspect of life, and surging healthcare prices are adding pressure across the economy. While healthcare affordability is influenced by many complex factors, I'm encouraged our elected officials are beginning to focus on bloated government programs that often escape scrutiny in these conversations."

"Unfortunately, at the same time, other lawmakers are pushing bills with the potential to increase costs and further expand out-of-control federal programs. The National Black Caucus of State Legislators is calling for stronger oversight of the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, and locally, State Senator Siela Bynoe (D Garden City) is championing legislation to increase transparency and mandate reporting on how this program operates in New York."

"These efforts offer common-sense solutions to reform a well-intentioned policy that has grown far beyond what Congress intended. Despite these commendable efforts, the New York State Legislature is set to advance legislation that is at odds with NBCSL's recommendations and Senator Bynoe's call for transparency. The bill would limit the state's ability to implement guardrails on the 340B program while failing to include any oversight and address the unintended consequences for healthcare costs and independent practices."

New York City and Long Island are becoming increasingly unaffordable, with minority-owned businesses and their customers among the hardest hit. Rising costs strain daily life and surging healthcare prices add pressure across the economy. The federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, created in 1992 to help low-income patients, has expanded into a $66 billion program. Evidence is limited that 340B benefits reach intended communities; critics say it enables large systems to acquire smaller practices and raise costs. The National Black Caucus of State Legislators and State Senator Siela Bynoe call for stronger oversight and mandated reporting in New York, while pending state legislation could limit guardrails and lack oversight.

Read at www.amny.com