January 9, 2024

We are pleased that New York’s Medicaid waiver has been approved. 1199SEIU and Greater New York Hospital Association have advocated for the waiver’s approval for more than a year. This important funding will help financially troubled safety net hospitals and bolster a healthcare workforce that continues to face vexing shortages.

However, the waiver does not change the fact that New York State continues to pay hospitals 30% less than the cost of care they provide for Medicaid patients. And while one of the waiver’s overarching goals is advancing health equity, the State’s health equity challenges demand greater measures. To reduce healthcare disparities and improve health outcomes for low-income communities, New York State must end the drastic underfunding of care for Medicaid recipients. We call on the Governor and the Legislature to include multi-year investments in this year’s budget to raise Medicaid rates to hospitals so that they cover 100% of the cost of care.

George Gresham, President, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East
Kenneth E. Raske, President, Greater New York Hospital Association