Join us on April 30th. to learn about this legislation and how its passage would affect
health care for all of us.

Medical costs continue to rise, costing New Yorkers more each year. New York is home
to roughly one million uninsured residents. Millions more are underinsured or face high
deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket costs that deter them from seeking care. Health
care debts are the leading cause of bankruptcy. Millions more will lose Medicaid over
the coming years after major changes at the federal level. Hundreds of thousands of
retirees may be pushed onto Medicare Advantage plans which will cost them even more
over time. Safety-net healthcare facilities are very financially stressed. Join us to hear
about a proposal that could change the way we pay for medical care.

Speakers:

Marguerite Uphoff, MD, MPH, FAAP: Dr. Uphoff came to Ithaca in 1970. She joined C.
Philip Meyer in founding Northeast Pediatrics. She served Ithaca and surrounding
communities for the next 50 years as a physician, practicing pediatrics full-time. She
was president of the Medical Staff of the Tompkins County Hospital and subsequently,
she served two terms at the Cayuga Medical Center. Dr, Uphoff was also a School
Health Physician for Ithaca, Lansing and TST-BOCES for 25 years. She is currently
retired.

Dr. Keith Nichols is a Board Certified Family Medicine Practitioner in Tioga County. He
is a senior staff physician at both UHS and Guthrie, directs the Health and Healing
Retreat in Owego, serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in Family Medicine at the
Upstate Medical Center, is a Certified Medical Examiner, EMS Medical Director for
several villages in Tioga County, and is also active with multiple organizations in Tioga
County.

Susan Beckley is a small business manager who has handled administrative work for
several businesses over the past thirty years. She has managed a physician’s practice,
is a medical billing specialist, and is very knowledgeable about healthcare coverage
needs. Ms. Beckley has been giving informational powerpoint presentations on the NY
Health Act since 2017. If enacted, this comprehensive coverage would affect all NY
state residents regardless of age, ability to pay or job status.

Richard Gottfried is a retired Assembly Member who served for more than fifty years in
the NYS Assembly. For most of those years he chaired the Assembly Health
Committee. His legacy includes work on the Prenatal Care Assistance Program, Child

Health Plus and Family Health Plus. He authored and fought for decades for the New
York Health Act, which would establish universal, publicly funded health coverage. This
bill was the first of its kind to pass a legislative body. Although retired, Dick Gottfried
continues to fight for the New York Health Act (S3425/ A1466), which will guarantee
comprehensive, high quality healthcare to every New Yorker.