Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during an appearance at the Westchester County Association’s (WCA) Toasting to a Healthy Westchester event at Tappan Hill in Tarrytown called on health care providers to do more with artificial intelligence.
“I’m really intrigued by what AI can do with respect to diagnosis prescription,” Clinton said, “I’m by no means an expert at all about AI and there’s a lot about it that really troubles me. But based on what I am learning about the application of artificial intelligence in the health care field, I think there’s a real opportunity.”
Clinton urged the health care providers attending the event to give more thought to what can be gained through the application of artificial intelligence. She suggested that it might be used to help professionals in the field perform at an even higher level and better manage the care they provide.
WCA’s President and CEO Michael Romita sat with Clinton in an interview format.
Without directly mentioning cuts to government health care spending contained in President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” Clinton said that federal government refusal to fund health care services needs to be addressed. She drew a contrast between what President Bill Clinton did when he was in office and some of what has been happening recently in Washington.
“If you look at what my husband did, he raised taxes on the wealthy. People forget that and nobody went bankrupt. He raised taxes on the wealthy. They cut jobs not by firing people and humiliating them, but by not filling positions and by doing a buyout. They cut regulation; they were able to save many billions of dollars. But it was done and I would argue in an appropriate way in consultation with the Congress, in consultation with federal employees.”
She said that President Clinton was able to negotiate a balanced budget that didn’t last after President Bush came in.
“There’s just a difference in philosophy about how to manage a government and how to do it in a smart way and efficient way that produces results for the maximum number of people,” Clinton said.
Clinton expressed concern about sending U.S troops onto the streets of American cities and attempting to override the authority of some governors. She said that New York’s governor and state legislature need to protect the rights and safety of New Yorkers while also dealing with the effects of cuts in federal aid and programming for the state.
“Unless we do more to expand access to health care, make it affordable, and control costs, we are not going to be able to afford to provide the kind of health care that Americans deserve to have,” Clinton said. “Poor health is more costly. We were beginning to turn the corner on chronic diseases because we paid for preventive testing and early care. I do not understand why we would want to go backwards on health care.”
Clinton praised the WCA’s impact, noting, “Much of the work they do for lobbying and advocacy fits with our challenges and opportunities. They’re constantly bringing together amazing combinations of people to do great work.”
According to Romita, “For 75 years, WCA has stood at the intersection of business, policy, and community impact. Together, we’ll continue strengthening the systems that keep Westchester healthy and prosperous.”
In opening remarks at the event, WCA Board Chair Susan Fox, who is president and CEO of White Plains Hospital, noted, “Health care has long been central to WCA’s mission. We’re proud to celebrate a legacy of advocacy and collaboration that continues to strengthen care and access across our region.”
The event honored William M. Mooney, Jr., with the WCA Healthcare Champion Award. Mooney served as president and CEO of the WCA for more than 15 years and created WCA’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on health care reform.
When accepting the award, Mooney said, “We learned that hospitals are complex organizations, vital to our economy and our well-being. Health care is the most noble profession because every day, these professionals get up to take care of others. We owe them our deepest gratitude.”