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On behalf of the Center for Disability Rights, I write to your office today to express our opposition to
Governor Cuomo’s proposed $100 million tax on healthcare entities that distribute prescription opioids.
Governor Cuomo’s repeated efforts to levy taxes on the healthcare industry in response to the opioid
epidemic demonstrate a clear misunderstanding about the legitimate role that prescription opioid
medications play in today’s healthcare system.
The Center for Disability Rights (CDR) is a not-for-profit center for independent living that advocates for
and serves the Disability Community in New York, and we largely advocate to ensure that disabled people
have access to the services and supports they need to live in the community. Many CDR members rely on
prescription medications, opioids included, and other medical services to live functional, healthy, and
happy lives. Any legislation that places a surcharge on these pharmaceuticals and medical services has
the potential to threaten access, a potentially devastating consequence for people with disabilities. For
those of us who do not abuse or misuse our medications, a tax on the medications we need penalizes our
access to needed treatment and serves only to limit our access.
Our organization is perhaps most concerned with the provision in Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal
that would explicitly allow the healthcare industry to pass added costs onto patients and providers.
Disabled people already face much higher rates of poverty than the nondisabled population, and so we
already struggle to pay for our prescriptions and other healthcare costs. The disabled community in New
York does not deserve to see our healthcare costs rise any further than they already have in recent years.
Sadly, this will be the reality if the Governor’s proposal is passed into law.
We wholly support Governor Cuomo is his commitment to prevent drug overdose, fight addiction, and
support those who are living with addiction in New York State. However, to do so at the expense of
affordable healthcare is unacceptable. We encourage your office to consider what this proposal would
mean for New York’s disabled community and urge your opposition when it is officially considered in
Albany.
Please reach out if you would like to further discuss the potential consequences of Governor Cuomo’s tax
proposal.
Sincerely,