Mineola, NY- Skyrocketing Medicare HMO rates and inequitable treatment of Nassau County's seniors citizens were the focus of a special hearing yesterday, as Legislator Kevan Abrahams (D-Hempstead) listened intently to the testimony of more than a dozen experts and members of the public. Since 1998, Medicare pullouts from HMO insurance plans have negatively affected more than 460,000 senior citizens in Nassau County.

The hearing, before the Legislature's Government Services Committee, was chaired by Alternate Deputy Presiding Officer Jeffrey Toback (D-Oceanside).

"Our seniors are being treated unfairly," Abrahams said. "I believe this hearing today will assure that all elected officials remain vigilant on this issue and that we all work towards resolving this crisis. After all, our seniors are the suburban pioneers of this county and we must treat them like the valuable resource they are."

A rally on the HMO issue was held earlier in the day and was attended buy over 200 seniors and County Executive Thomas Suozzi, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy and Congressman Steve Israel.

Senior sin the crowd held signs that read, "We Vote No - Premiums Must Go", "If the city doesn't pay, why do we?" and "Give Us Back - What We Lack -- HMOs, HMOs, HMOs," seniors expressed their frustration with the issue of affordable health benefits and the inequities of benefits offered to New York City seniors vs Nassau's.

"Nassau County cares about its seniors who have made invaluable contributions to our community and for too long now they have felt the brunt of Medicare cut backs and Washington's inability to combat the problem," said County Executive Suozzi.

"The time has come for action; the president and congressional leaders must hear the outcry from these seniors and support our legislation to resolve the healthcare crisis on Long Island and around the country, " Senator Schumer said.

Speaking before the committee were: Sharon Mullon, Commissioner of Nassau County Department of Senior Citizen Affairs; Judith Clark, Director of Support Services, Nassau County Department of Senior Citizens Affairs; Clara Woll, retired HIICAP Coordinator; Thomas Jones, Managed Care Operations Specialist, NY Regional Office, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Donald Berkman, Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) coordinator.

"These people are in desperate need of help today," said Berkman. "The medical costs are outrageous and are getting out of hand."

"This hearing let us learn first hand how this issue effects our residents," Abrahams said. "It is important that we keep this in the forefront until it is resolved. We must serve as local lobbyists for our federal officials."