Dr. James McDonald was confirmed Friday afternoon by the state Senate as the top public health official in New York State.
McDonald succeeds Dr Mary Bassett, who left the role at the end of last year. McDonald, who had been acting health commissioner, was appointed in March by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
In a statement, McDonald called the appointment and confirmation “the honor of a lifetime.”
“There are few things more important to people than their own health,” he said. “My goal as health commissioner is to do everything I can to empower New Yorkers to live healthier lives, eliminate health disparities, increase access to affordable health care, and create healthier communities across the state. I am grateful to work with the talented, dedicated team at the Department of Health as we strive to improve public health for all New Yorkers.”
The confirmation comes more than three years after the start of the COVID pandemic and as most restrictions due to the public health crisis have been lifted. Still, health officials have been monitoring a possible increase in cases through sewage.
McDonald also leads the department as health care in general continues to be in flux: Some hospitals and health care networks have struggled financially since the start of the pandemic, while the state also faces shortages acute of healthcare workers.
At the same time, pandemic-era rules for Medicaid are also ending, and state health officials are trying to limit the drop in the number of people who have coverage by expanding access to the Essential Plan.
“As the state begins the process of redetermining eligibility for more than 9 million individuals enrolled in Medicaid as part of the public health emergency relief, we look forward to continuing to work with the Department to help them to stay insured and enhance the state’s efforts to make affordable, high-quality coverage available to all New Yorkers,” said Eric Linzer, president and CEO of the Health Plan Association of New York.
