Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) welcomed Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), to the Hudson Valley on Friday for an official visit with hospital executives, community health center leaders, and healthcare providers from across the region.
During the visit, Congressman Lawler and Administrator Oz held a closed-door roundtable focused on strengthening Medicare and Medicaid services, addressing 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 discussion, the two spoke with local reporters, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between federal health officials and local providers. The event brought together a broad group of regional stakeholders, including physicians, hospital leaders, and community health advocates.
“Strengthening Medicaid and protecting Medicare is critically important to ensuring affordable, accessible healthcare for all who need it,” Congressman Lawler said. “Here in the Hudson Valley, our hospitals, clinicians, and community health centers are on the front lines every single day. Having Administrator Oz here reinforces the importance of working together to improve outcomes, expand access, and support the providers who care for our most vulnerable.”
Administrator Oz echoed that message, underscoring the value of local engagement. “The decisions CMS makes in Washington and Baltimore affect Americans in every one of the country’s nearly 20,000 cities and towns. That’s why it’s so important for us to get out of the Beltway and hear directly from these communities. I’m grateful to Congressman Lawler for bringing local experts together to work toward real, bipartisan solutions that can lower costs, increase access, and improve quality of care.”
