Congressman Mike Lawler Hosts CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz for Healthcare Roundtable in Hudson Valley

By Yisroel R.

Orangeburg, NY. Congressman Mike Lawler welcomed Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, for an official visit with hospital leaders, community health center officials, and healthcare providers from across the Hudson Valley.

The program included a closed roundtable discussion that focused on strengthening Medicare and Medicaid services, addressing ongoing workforce shortages, lowering healthcare costs for families, and improving access to quality care for seniors and underserved communities throughout New York’s 17th District.

Following the roundtable, Congressman Lawler and Administrator Oz met briefly with local reporters. The visit brought together a wide range of regional health stakeholders, including hospital executives, physicians, and community health advocates.

“Strengthening Medicaid and protecting Medicare is critically important in ensuring affordable, accessible healthcare to all who need it. Here in the Hudson Valley, our hospitals, clinicians, and community health centers are on the front lines every single day taking care of our sick and most vulnerable. Having Administrator Oz here with us today reinforces the importance of working collaboratively to improve outcomes for patients, expand access to care, and ensure that providers have the support they need. I’m grateful to Dr. Oz and his team for taking the time to hear directly from our health leaders and for engaging on the challenges and opportunities facing our region,” said Congressman Mike Lawler.

“The decisions CMS makes in Washington and Baltimore affect Americans in every one of the country’s nearly 20,000 cities and towns, urban, rural, and everything in between. That’s why it’s so important for us to get out of the Beltway and hear directly from people in those communities. I’m grateful to Congressman Lawler for bringing together local experts and stakeholders to work toward real, bipartisan solutions that can lower costs, increase access, and improve quality of care,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz.