Senator Rachel May Honored by NYS Association for Rural Health

Syracuse, NY - Senator Rachel May (D-Onondaga, Madison, Oneida) is honored to be recognized by the New York State Association of Rural Health for her advocacy on rural healthcare funding and other issues faced by rural communities across Upstate New York. She has been selected to receive a Rural Health Champion Award. 

As Co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Commission on Rural Resources, Senator May was instrumental in negotiating a supplemental Appropriation for Rural Health Networks and Rural Access Hospitals in the 2019-20 budget. Additionally, Senator May has held hearings on the Climate Leadership and Community Preservation Act, rural broadband, farm labor rights, and Upstate nursing home issues during the COVID-19 crisis. Senator May hosted Downstate colleagues in Upstate for roundtables on opioid addiction treatment and prevention.    

As chair of the Senate Committee on Aging, Senator May is a vigorous supporter of home care workforce initiatives, expanded funding for in-home care programs, the Long-term Care Ombudsman Program, and nursing home accountability. She has sponsored bills to create a Reimagining Long-Term Care Task Force, to authorize a family caregiver tax credit, and to create a home care jobs innovation fund to support workforce growth.

“I am incredibly honored to be recognized as a Rural Health Champion,” said Senator Rachel May. “As one of the few Upstate members of the Majority Conference, I have used my position to ensure Upstate and rural issues have their place at the table. I look forward to continuing my advocacy in the upcoming session.”
 

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The New York State Association for Rural Health (NYSARH) is a not-for-profit, non-partisan, grassroots organization working to preserve and improve the health of the citizens in rural New York State.  NYSARH membership includes representatives of all facets of the rural health care industry, as well as individuals and students.  On many different levels, NYSARH serves individuals, consumers, non-profit organizations, government agencies and officials, health care facilities, emergency medical service providers, long-term care organizations, businesses, universities, foundations, associations, and other stakeholders in rural health.

www.nysarh.org