Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) – Hospital and nursing home leaders were joined by a number of bipartisan state lawmakers on Friday at 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East’s Buffalo headquarters to call on Gov. Kathy Hochul to fully fund Medicaid for hospitals and nursing home facilities across New York State.
Joining the likes of 1199SEIU, CWA Local 1168 and other local healthcare workers on Friday included State Senators Tim Kennedy (D), Sean Ryan (D) and Patrick Gallivan (R), as well as State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes (D), Assemblyman Bill Conrad (D) and Assemblywoman Karen McMahon.
Medicaid is a crucial lifeline for many kids, seniors and people with disabilities across the state. Over 7 million New Yorkers rely on Medicaid for their healthcare, many in Western New York.
However, chronic underfunding of Medicaid can lead to:
– Hospital and nursing home closures;
– Dangerous staffing shortages;
– Service line closures;
– Cuts to mental health services and fewer overnight beds;
– Difficulty accessing health care services;
– Longer wait times in emergency rooms;
– Children and seniors being turned away from medical practices;
– Home care struggles to meet demand for services while the need for workers increase.