BALCONY Director Lou Gordon discusses Health Care Reform in New York

Seeks to Find Common Ground in Reforming New York’s Health Care System

The Business and Labor Coalition of New York, BALCONY, hosted a Rochester Area Health Care Forum on Friday, May 1st at the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, and was attended by more than 80 persons from labor unions, small businesses, health care providers, community advocacy groups and legislators. The event focused on updates on health care reform efforts at the local, state and national levels and on finding common ground between business and labor on practical solutions for improving New York’s health care system.

The Forum commenced with introductions by Mark Cronin, Regional Vice President, Lakes Region, American Cancer Society and James Nofziger Co-Chair BALCONY-Rochester Health Care Forum.

Keynote speakers featured a panel of government, business and labor leaders, including U.S. Congressman from the 29th Congressional District Eric Massa, NYS Assembly Insurance Committee Chair Joseph Morelle, NYS Assembly 131st District and Lou Gordon, Director of BALCONY, who made presentations about the current status of reform efforts before engaging in an extended question-and-answer session with members of the audience. Sally Trafton, from the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency, provided data on the health status of the Rochester area.

An additional panel was formed and moderated by Moderated by Fran Weisberg, Executive Director, Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency where comments were made by James Bertolone, President of Rochester Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Michael Elmendorf, NYS Director of National Federation of Independent Business, Daniel E. Richardson, Director of Finance and Planning of Hamilton Manor & Latta Road Nursing Homes, and Peter G. Robinson, Vice President and Chief Operating Office of University of Rochester Medical Center. Closing remarks were made by Tom Gillett, Regional Director of New York State United Teachers.

Many of the participants offered positive comments about the forum on feedback forms provided, with 90% indicating a willingness to participate in a follow-up event. One wrote, “An excellent cross section of presenters and ideas. There is hope!”

BALCONY offered this event in coordination with its Rochester area organizing partners: the American Cancer Society, Monroe Plan for Medical Care, Downtown Community Forum, Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency, IBEW Local 86, New York State United Teachers, and the Rochester Area Labor Federation.

View some of presentation videos: Rochester Forum Videos

View the PowerPoint: Tafton
View the PowerPoint as a PDF file: Tafton