Community health centers across New York State are calling for urgent state funding as they face a financial crisis caused by anticipated federal changes. Leadership, staff, and patients from health centers across Central New York gathered at Syracuse Community Health as part of a series of regional advocacy events to urge Governor Hochul and State legislators to invest $300 million in community health centers.
Community health centers (CHCs) currently serve patients at almost 900 sites statewide, providing primary and preventive care including medical, dental, behavioral health, vision, and substance use disorder services to more than 2.5 million people each year—representing 1 in 8 New Yorkers. CHCs serve locations that might not otherwise have a primary doctor’s office and serve everyone who walks through their door, even if they don’t have insurance or the ability to pay.
The funding crisis stems from anticipated changes at the federal level, where 1.5 million New Yorkers currently stand to lose their health insurance. Those patients are likely to end up at CHCs. Without Medicaid coverage or other insurance, CHCs won’t get paid for treating this influx of patients, costing them an estimated $300 million in revenue. While the Governor, Assembly, and Senate have proposed $60M, $80M, and $100M respectively, these investments fall far short of meeting health centers’ needs.
CHCs have been dramatically underfunded for decades. Medicaid represents 42% of total CHC revenue. Yet New York’s outdated Medicaid reimbursement system pays rates based on costs from a quarter of a century ago, putting CHCs at a disadvantage as they deal with rising costs, workforce shortages, and growing demand. Joey Marie Horton, CEO of North Country Family Health Center, noted that while her family chooses their health center “for high-quality care close to home,” that care is “at risk for thousands of people across our region who depend on us” without adequate funding.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.nny360.com/opinion/invest-in-community-health-centers/article_e88f8337-f1ae-5a42-9d84-21d2813e6340.html