By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer visited Olean General Hospital Monday where he advocated for an extension of Medicare reimbursement for seniors using telehealth services that began during Covid-19.
Schumer, who makes a point to visit each of New York’s 62 counties at least once each year, said that without an extension, Medicare will stop paying for video and audio telehealth services with their physician after Dec. 31.
The Senate majority leader, who will become minority leader again in January, said looking he’s looking for a bipartisan extension of the Medicare telehealth reimbursement.
“I was proud to help Medicare expand telehealth services during the pandemic, but we need to act quickly to preserve this program and ensure this lifeline isn’t cut off for our seniors come 2025,” Schumer said as hospital officials and staff stood behind him near the hospital entrance.
“I”m a big defender of rural hospitals,” Schumer said. “Telehealth is not a luxury, it’s a lifeline. It even works on a flip-phone, he added, pulling out his well-used cell phone.
There are 300,000 seniors in Western New York — including nearly 20,000 in Cattaraugus County — who would lose the ability to communicate with their doctor via telehealth services, Schumer added.
“It became so useful we decided to extend it even after Covid,” Schumer said. “The emergency (officially) ended last year. Congress only extended it to Dec. 31. It is so essential. It is critical in rural areas” like Cattaraugus County.
Kaleida Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael Mineo said Kaleida backed the extension of Medicare telehealth services. “Improved technology has made telemedicine easier” — even for those who don’t consider themselves computer-literate.
“You don’t have to drive to a doctor’s office or clinic, park, go to the waiting room and wait, all of which are a challenge when you are not feeling well,” Mineo added.
Dr. Muhammed Javed, chairman of the board of Upper Allegheny Health Systems, which includes Olean General Hospital and the Bradford Regional Medical Center, said the telehealth services have proved very beneficial for nursing home residents. He thanked Schumer for promoting the extension of Medicare telehealth services especially when there is a shortage of medical specialists.
Cattaraugus County Public Health Director Dr. Kevin D. Watkins said telehealth services “offer a critical solution” in rural areas where medical services and specialists are scarce. “During the Covid-19 pandemic, telehealth really played a critical role in supporting healthcare for residents of Cattaraugus County.”
Olean Mayor Bill Aiello, who also spoke, said the city is fortunate to have Olean General Hospital and thanked Schumer for the federal aid he brings to the facility. He said the first question he is often asked about the community is about the local hospital.
Schumer took a few questions from reporters including where do Democrats go from here after losing the presidency, control of the Senate and likely control of the House?
The majority leader said when Democrats return to Washington on Tuesday “We’re going to look at what we did right. We’re going to look at what we did wrong. We’re going to look at what we need to do to improve.”
Schumer added that “Tomorrow when Congress gets back, I’m going to be talking to my colleagues. I’ll be saying more when I get down to D.C.”
Schumer said he feels he will continue to be effective as minority leader, a post he previously held for two years during the first term of President Donald Trump. “I believe I’ll still be able to be very, very effective.”
Schumer said he was “furious” over the abrupt decision by Sumitomo Rubber USA to close its Tonawanda tire plant, putting more than 1,500 workers out of work. “I helped this plant in the past,” he said. “I’m not going to forget what they did.”
