Relates to veterans health care

• Democratic9
• Republican4

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Monica Martinez says this is needed

Although New York State has the fifth largest population of veterans in the nation, we spend significantly less per veteran than almost any other state. A staggeringly small number of these veterans actually uses health care services provided by the federal Department of Veterans' Affairs, despite the fact that more than 50% of the veteran population is over the age of 65 and thus significantly more likely to require access to adequate health care services. According to the New York Health Foundation, nearly three quarters of the veteran population has served during wartime, and are roughly eight times more likely to require mental health care services. Despite these statistics, New York lacks an adequate system to seamlessly connect our courageous heroes with the federal, state and local health care services they need. This bill attempts to remedy these myriad problems by providing for a state sponsored study to improve veterans' health care in New York. The study would evaluate whether the needs of veterans and their families are being met by existing healthcare and veterans' programs and provide recommendations for steps that could be taken to increase access to affordable, quality healthcare. The study will also consider the effects of designating health care navigators who would assist veterans and their families in obtaining vital information and access to needed health care services, including mental health care and benefits provided by federal agencies like the V.A. This bill would ensure that New York is committed to helping our hometown heroes get access to the care that they deserve after sacrificing so much in service to our nation.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.