Rochester State Legislators, Hospital Leaders, Healthcare Advocates & Workers Call on Governor Hochul to End Medicaid Funding Crisis
February 1, 2024
Contact: April Ezzell, (716) 449-1620
1199SEIU Communications
**MEDIA ADVISORY**
**For Planning Purposes Only**
A portion of New York’s huge, unprecedented reserves must be used to close the Medicaid funding gap, save struggling hospitals, prevent slashing of maternity and mental health services, and protect low-income seniors, children, families and people with disabilities
Rochester, New York – On Monday, February 5th, Rochester state legislative leaders, hospital representatives, healthcare advocates, and workers will rally at University of Rochester Medical Center’s Strong Memorial Hospital to demand that Governor Hochul address New York’s dire Medicaid funding crisis by raising the Medicaid reimbursement rate.
Over seven million New Yorkers rely on Medicaid for their healthcare. Even though Medicaid provides vital coverage to these New Yorkers, the state pays hospitals 30% less than the actual cost of care hospitals provide. As a result of this underfunding, hospitals in New York continue to struggle financially more than in the rest of the U.S.— 63% had an operating deficit in 2021. Without sufficient funding, many hospitals, such as URMC’s Strong Memorial Hospital, cannot invest in programs or infrastructure that benefit the patients and communities they serve. In recent years, URMC’s Strong Memorial has faced overcrowding challenges due to a lack of beds due to underfunding, as well as other factors.
WHAT:
Rochester state legislators, hospital representatives, healthcare advocates, and workers call for Governor Hochul to fully fund Medicaid Health Insurance Program
WHO:
New York State Senator Samra G. Brouk, Chair of Committee on Mental Health
New York State Senator Jeremy A. Cooney, Chair of Committee on Procurement and Contracts
New York Assemblymember Demond Meeks
New York Assemblymember Sarah Clark
Tracy Harrison, Vice President, 1199SEIU
Kathy Parrinello, R.N., Ph.D., URMC’s Strong Memorial Hospital Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President
WHEN:
9:00 AM on Monday, February 5th
WHERE:
Strong Memorial Hospital
LeChase Assembly Room G9576
601 Elmwood Ave
Rochester, NY 14642
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1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. We represent over 400,000 nurses and caregivers throughout Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Florida. Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all.
https://www.1199seiu.org
The New York Alliance for Healthcare Justice (NYAHJ) is dedicated to ensuring that Medicaid reimbursements cover the full cost of care, so that all New Yorkers have access to quality health care. NYAHJ is an initiative through the Healthcare Education Project (HEP), a community-based advocacy organization working to protect and expand access to quality, affordable healthcare for all Americans through education, advocacy, and coalition building. HEP is a joint effort of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and the Greater New York Hospital Association, founded
in 1999.
https://healthcareeducationproject.org/end-the-medicaid-funding-crisis/