Governor Kathy Hochul today slammed Washington Republicans for sending health care costs skyrocketing for 140,000 New Yorkers. As the GOP refuses to extend the existing enhanced premium tax credits, New Yorkers who rely on the ACA subsidies for affordable, quality coverage are now being notified that their health insurance premiums will increase by an average of 38 percent next year – an average annual increase of nearly $1,400 for individuals and $3,000 for couples. This news comes as New Yorkers are preparing for open enrollment, set to begin November 1.
“Republicans in Washington have made it clear – they don’t care about New Yorkers’ health care,” Governor Hochul said. “It’s shameful. By refusing to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, they are turning their backs on their constituents and ripping away access to affordable, quality health care. Republicans in Congress need to do the right thing and extend these credits that make health insurance for New Yorkers more affordable.”
Given the magnitude of federal funding reductions enacted under H.R.1, which are now compounded by the GOP shutdown and the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits, no single state, including New York, will be able to provide funding to offset these losses.
The Governor is calling for Congressional Republicans to make the right choice and extend Enhanced Premium Tax Credits that help make insurance more affordable for New Yorkers.
Regional Breakdown of Increased Monthly Health Care Costs:
Region
Average Monthly Cost Increase For a Couple ($)
Average Monthly Cost Increase For a Couple (%)
New York City
$211
38%
Mid-Hudson
$206
31%
Long Island
$219
32%
Capital Region
$231
33%
Western New York
$267
38%
Central New York
$256
43%
Finger Lakes
$248
42%
Mohawk Valley
$270
49%
Southern Tier
$265
48%
North Country
$253
44%
Statewide
$228
38%
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said,“I thank Governor Hochul for standing up for New Yorkers who rely on the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits to keep their health care costs affordable. These are hardworking everyday people who deserve affordable health insurance. The start of the open enrollment period is fast approaching and without immediate action at the federal level, the threat of increased premiums is quickly becoming a reality. Allowing these enhanced premium tax credits to expire will be devastating for hardworking New Yorkers who will be forced to choose between paying for food, rent or paying for the health care they need to survive.”
Here’s the deal: New Yorkers will hardly notice a government shut down because the trump administration has effectively cut off funding, has already effectively shuttered agencies and government services, canceled investments, fired so many federal workers and experts so that important agencies like Social Security, Medicare and the IRS are barely able to function. (Unlike President Biden whose biggest investment legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, sent 2/3 of funding into Red states – for which he got no credit.) Now trump and the MAGA Republicans are barreling toward their wet dream of repealing Obamacare without actually having to go through the process of voting, while shoving a budget down the throats of Americans that will upend health care and public health – moving back to making access to health care a privilege, not a right.
After cutting Democrats out of actual budget negotiations for months, their claim to just pass the CR and have weeks more to negotiate is pure deception, they are blaming Democrats for the shutdown by lying (as usual) that Democrats want “Cadillac health benefits for illegal immigrants.” Not at all. Democrats are fighting to prevent the hike in health insurance premiums coming as soon as this month – a 60-year old couple earning $85,000 will see their health insurance premium increase to $27,000 – making insurance unaffordable. This is part and parcel of a trump administration “whole of government” plan to make Americans weaker, sicker, poorer, and if possible die off sooner rather than be a financial burden.
Moreover, Trump has already defied the Constitution and clawed back Congressional appropriations, while Republicans have proven to be untrustworthy. The Democrats have learned their lesson and heard their constituents who are pleading for them to stand up to this lawless, cruel administration.– Karen Rubin, news-photos-features.com
Governor Kathy Hochul and New Yorkers rallied today to call out President Trump and Washington Republicans for turning their backs on Americans and shutting down the federal government. After bending the knee to Trump’s reckless trade war and devastating Big Ugly Bill, Republicans in Congress are once again abandoning their constituents to enact further pain and chaos at the behest of the Trump Administration.
“After voting to gut food assistance and healthcare for millions of New Yorkers, Republicans in Congress – including seven members from New York – are once again recklessly siding with Donald Trump to shut down the federal government. Republicans were given another chance to stand up for their constituents, yet they chose to leave town rather than work in good faith to avoid a government shutdown,” Governor Hochul said. “The GOP shutdown will have devastating effects on workers, small businesses and families throughout our state. Washington Republicans need to do their damn jobs, actually stand up for the people they serve, and come to the table to end this shutdown.”
Trump and Congressional Republicans have already inflicted pain on New York. Their agenda:
Strips 1.5 million New Yorkers of their health coverage
Puts 300,000 New Yorkers at risk of losing SNAP benefits
Burdens hospitals with over $3 billion annually in uncompensated care costs
Slashes $8 billion from the State health system per year
Threatens an $11 billion hit to overall economic activity, including agriculture and food industries, due to the loss of SNAP benefits
And this shutdown will cause even more destruction:
With more than 115,000 federal employees in New York State, tens of thousands will be furloughed, while essential federal employees, including air traffic controllers and TSA employees, will be forced to work without pay
Pauses or delays in the processing of applications for Social Security, veterans benefits, and other federal benefits
Critical programs, such as SNAP and WIC, are at risk of running out of funds and pausing benefits in the event of an extended shutdown
Threatens funding for Head Start programs across the state, jeopardizing childcare and early education for thousands of New York families
Hospitals across the state will be left waiting for federal reimbursements
Creates uncertainty for hundreds of thousands of families and seniors with housing vouchers or that reside in public housing who will be worried whether their rent will be paid
Farmers left without emergency aid while facing detrimental trade policies
Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “Today’s government shutdown is the direct result of ongoing chaos in Washington and a lack of leadership. This shutdown will have a rippling effect, and it is the Republican Party who must be held responsible, including the seven GOP members of Congress from New York, and the party infrastructure here at home that enables them. This is not about smart governance, this is about their insensitivity to the cruelty and pain they are inflicting on their fellow Americans. This shutdown will force workers to go without paychecks, seniors to go without food, veterans to go without healthcare, and countless communities to suffer in numerous ways because of their political games. While here in New York, we will continue to do everything in our power to stand up for our people. The truth is that the effects of this shutdown will be devastating, and no state will have enough resources to undo every wrong that Washington Republicans are committing. I implore New York’s Republican Representatives to stop enabling this cruelty, to stand up for America, and to put people over party. The people of New York, and this country, deserve nothing less.”
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said, “I know how many working families depend on basic needs—putting food on the table, having health care they can count on, and having access to housing they can afford. President Trump, meanwhile, is more concerned with escalators, fake science, and Jimmy Kimmel more than the millions of New Yorkers about to lose their healthcare and SNAP benefits. Republicans control both houses of Congress, and this reckless shutdown robs families of security. We must hold them accountable for preferring chaos over common sense.”
State Senator Liz Krueger said, “This MAGA Shutdown is just the latest example of the damage being done to regular New Yorkers by Donald Trump’s policies that put his billionaire donors first and the American people last. While Democrats in Washington are standing up for families about to lose their health insurance, Republicans are doing their utmost to take it away and make life harder, all while Trump’s reckless flailing drives up inflation and puts the economy on the edge of recession. Enough is enough.”
New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento said, “I want to thank Governor Hochul for consistently demonstrating the kind of leadership we urgently need, a stark contrast to the void of leadership in Washington. To be clear, this shutdown and all the pain it will cause lies squarely on the Administration and Congressional Republicans. Their calculated, cruel, and chaotic decisions will harm every American as healthcare costs soar. In addition, this will lead to the loss of jobs for countless dedicated public servants, whom we deeply respect and appreciate, and put at risk the vital services they provide to the American people. We need united leadership that will bring people together and prioritize the needs of everyday working people. The Union Movement in New York State stands together. We will fight this outrageous assault on working people with all the strength of our collective resolve.”
DC37 Executive Director Henry Garrido said, “Our members are the backbone of this city and this country — dedicated public workers who care for the sick, educate our children, keep our streets safe, and ensure our communities thrive. President Trump’s reckless government shutdown disrespects the very people who make this nation work. Shutting down the government is not leadership — it’s a failure to value working families and protect them from harm. At DC 37, we stand united with all public workers across this country. We demand respect, dignity, and an end to using our livelihoods as political pawns. Social justice is a union issue — and this injustice will not go unanswered.”
32BJ SEIU President Manny Pastreich said, “The Republicans who control the House, Senate and White House are playing with the health and livelihoods of millions of Americans. Over 22 million Americans are about to see their health care premiums skyrocket by an average of 75 percent because Republicans will not extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, and direct and contracted government workers are at risk of losing their much-needed paychecks. 32BJ SEIU represents approximately 2,400 hard-working federally contracted security officers, office cleaners, and food service workers across multiple states and D.C. – workers who would bear the brunt of a Republican-created government shutdown. Not only do 32BJ members earn less than direct federal employees, but they also would be ineligible to receive backpay. A government shutdown would turn their lives upside down, forcing many to risk eviction, have their utilities turned off and leave them unable to feed themselves and their families. In New York, we represent hardworking security officers and cleaners at the Statue of Liberty, the Federal Reserve and other federal offices who would be impacted.
State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, “Donald Trump and his minions recklessly shut down the federal government, and its ordinary New Yorkers who will pay the price. As Trump holds the federal budget hostage and demands cuts to vital health care funding, nearly 3 million New Yorkers face losing access to the SNAP benefits that provide them groceries, New York federal courts may be unable to administer justice, New York housing project approvals may grind to a halt because of a housing loan application freeze, New York small businesses may face closure because they are unable to obtain federal loans, New York travelers may face undue delays at airports because of staffing shortages, and the 16 million annual visitors to New York national parks and historic sites will be shut out. All this to say nothing of the nearly 185,000 federal workers in New York who may go without pay. I stand with Governor Hochul and other elected officials to demand that Donald Trump and his cronies stop selling out New Yorkers and re-open the government as soon as possible.”
State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud said, “Putting politics over people with a reckless shutdown threatens the health, food security, and livelihoods of millions of New Yorkers. This is a cruel betrayal of working families, and we should not stay silent while our communities are left to suffer.”
State Senator Peter Harkham said, “In just nine months, President Trump and the Republicans in Congress have inflicted immeasurable damage to the health, safety and security of New Yorkers. Their chaotic and cruel governance ignores the rule of law and serves the ultra-rich while life becomes more precarious each day for too many statewide. True to their character, the administration and its allies are already blaming everyone except themselves for the wreckage they will be causing and lives being severely impacted with a government shutdown.”
State Senator Brian Kavanagh said, “The reckless, destructive actions of the Trump administration and Republican majorities in both houses of Congress over the past nine months have threatened the housing stability, healthcare, and food security of countless Americans. Their decision to shut down the federal government will only cause more pointless harm. I am proud to stand with Governor Kathy Hochul and our colleagues here in New York to oppose these destructive actions and to work to ensure that the government we’ve been elected to lead continues to provide critical resources and offer solutions to the big problems we face.”
State Senator John Liu said, “After slashing healthcare funding in the Big Ugly Bill and terrorizing immigrants across the country with ICE attacks, President Trump’s Republican-controlled government is doubling down on its reckless and dangerous behavior by shutting down the government. This Republican-led shutdown will have devastating impacts on the institutions, programming, and services affecting all New Yorkers, from our hospitals to our farmers and families struggling to make ends meet. It’s abhorrent that New Yorkers, along with working people across the country, are being forced to pay the price for the GOP’s chaos and disorder.”
State Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “A government shutdown will have significant adverse consequences for New Yorkers and Americans across our country. We need to be clear: to avoid a shutdown, there needs to be an agreement that protects New Yorkers from the disastrous impacts of the Trump agenda. And yet so far, the Administration will not agree to such an agreement. The Trump Administration and Congressional Majority have spent the last nine months pursuing an agenda that harms all New Yorkers ––stripping Medicaid coverage from 1.5 million New Yorkers, cutting SNAP benefits that feed thousands of our neighbors, threatening funding for our education system, and tearing apart immigrant families. A government shutdown will only cause further harm. I urge our Republican colleagues who represent New York to step up and reach a meaningful agreement that protects New Yorkers from this imminent harm.”
State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “Because of reckless decisions in Washington, New Yorkers are suffering devastating consequences. More than 1.5 million New Yorkers have already lost access to health care. Nearly 3 million more are at risk of losing SNAP benefits, hospitals are strained, and farmers are being denied emergency services. Our communities deserve better, and we won’t stop fighting until they get exactly that.”
Assemblymember Rebecca A. Seawright said, “As Chair of the Committee on Aging, I am deeply concerned about the devastating impact this reckless shutdown will have on older New Yorkers. Seniors across our state depend on SNAP, housing assistance, and access to health care to live with dignity. Stripping away these lifelines is not only irresponsible — it is cruel. I stand with Governor Hochul and my colleagues in calling out Trump and Washington Republicans for putting politics over people and endangering the health, safety, and well-being of millions, especially our most vulnerable neighbors.”
Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi said, “President Trump and Washington Republicans, including New York’s GOP delegation, have led our country to the brink of a disaster. The last nine months have been a failure of leadership, and now as their party argues over petty grievances, millions of vulnerable New Yorkers will suffer. Today, the cost of their inability to govern will be 2.8 million New Yorkers losing SNAP benefits; hundreds of thousands of women and children left without the WIC nutrition program; tens of thousands of federal workers going without pay; and countless hospitals and farms facing financial ruin. Congressional Republicans must stay in Washington until they reach a deal that keeps the government funded and open, and does not destabilize access to healthcare, or food and nutrition programs.”
Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal said, “For someone who boasts about knowing the art of the deal, Donald Trump has proven completely feckless in running the government. We are just nine months into Trump’s presidency and the federal government has already shut down, millions are bracing for the loss of food assistance and over one million New Yorkers are preparing for the loss of their health insurance. Donald Trump and his Congressional puppets have made it clear that they have no interest in serving the needs of the American people, just using their power to benefit themselves and their billionaire friends. New Yorkers, and voters across the country, will remember this when Congressional elections are held next year. I am glad that Governor Hochul is once again fighting back and protecting New Yorkers against the dangers of this administration.”
Assemblymember Ron Kim said, “This federal administration has already cut funding for vital programs that keep New Yorkers safe and healthy, and a shutdown of the government for any length of time will cause devastating harm to countless people. I stand with Governor Hochul in urging our leaders in Congress to pass a funding measure that ensures the government can continue providing its indispensable services to all Americans while protecting their health care and other essential benefits.”
Assemblymember Michaelle C. Solages said, “The Trump Administration is gutting services, and Republicans in Congress are cheering it on with a reckless shutdown. Healthcare, SNAP, and WIC are lifelines, not political toys. If they keep choosing Trump over their own constituents, families will pay the price. I stand with Governor Hochul in demanding these funds stay protected.”
Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson said, “The attacks on the American people from President Trump and his administration have now come to a head with the federal government shutting down. I am proud to stand with my democratic colleagues at all levels of government to protect New Yorkers’ healthcare, jobs, and safety. This shutdown is the fault of President Trump and his accomplices. Their unwillingness to negotiate a fair budget and their commitment to eliminating healthcare for so many will have devastating financial impacts on our friends, families, and neighbors. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for your leadership to support New Yorkers when our President will not.”
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn said, “President Trump and Washington Republicans are once again putting politics over people with this reckless shutdown. Here in Brooklyn, where so many families are already struggling, and now millions shall stand to lose food assistance, health care, and housing support. These cuts would be devastating for women, children, immigrants, New Yorkers who rely on SNAP and working families. I stand with Governor Kathy Hochul and my colleagues to demand an end to this crisis and protect our most vulnerable communities.”
Assemblymember Latrice Walker said, “If the government shutdown goes beyond a week, the WIC program will likely run out of money. It’s the nation’s signature nutrition program for low-income mothers and babies, servicing more than 440,000 New Yorkers – including constituents in my district. A prolonged shutdown would also cause nearly 3 million New Yorkers to lose their SNAP benefits. Housing vouchers will be delayed, putting people’s stability at risk. The shutdown will have a devastating impact on the most vulnerable Americans – a sadly predictable continuation of cruelty coming from President Trump and the GOP-controlled Congress. I urge lawmakers in Washington to come to an agreement before irrevocable damage is done to people who need the most help.”
Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman said, “This shutdown is not just reckless; it’s deeply harmful. New York families are bearing the brunt of Washington Republicans’ political maneuvering, with millions at risk of losing food assistance, health coverage, and housing support. I stand firmly with Governor Hochul and my Democratic colleagues in calling out this failure of leadership. We were elected to protect our constituents, not to play politics with their lives. It’s time to reject chaos and recommit to fighting for the dignity and stability every New Yorker deserves.”
Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos said, “As an Assembly Member for the 72nd District, I stand with Governor Hochul and New York Democrats in condemning Donald Trump and Washington Republicans for causing a government shutdown. This is more than politics — it hurts working families in Northern Manhattan and across New York State. Cutting health care, food, and housing support will devastate our communities. Families deserve stability, not chaos, and I’ll keep fighting to make sure every New Yorker has the resources they need to thrive.”
Assemblymember Al Taylor said, “A government shutdown isn’t an abstract headline, it’s an immediate hit to families in our communities who depend on food assistance, health care, and housing support. When Washington Republicans choose chaos over solutions, New Yorkers pay the price. From Harlem to Inwood, we know what’s at stake: it rips food off tables, puts health care out of reach, and takes stability away from families right here in New York. I am proud to stand with Governor Hochul in demanding that people’s needs come before partisan politics.”
Assemblyman Charles D. Fall said, “As a legislator committed to protecting and improving the lives of New Yorkers, I am appalled by the reckless, callous, and reprehensible actions of Republicans in Washington. This government shutdown is nothing short of immoral—it is cruelty disguised as politics from people who are supposed to serve the public. It renounces millions of Americans who rely on essential programs like SNAP, WIC, and housing vouchers—programs that prevent families from going hungry and keep them from sleeping on the streets. It denies emergency aid to hardworking farmers who feed this very nation. Rather than serving people Republicans swore an oath to protect, they have chosen political gamesmanship that inflicts real harm on vulnerable communities. Standing alongside this manufactured crisis is not leadership—it is cowardice, negligent, and a betrayal to the American people.”
Assemblymember Alex Bores said, “Trump’s disastrous agenda has harmed millions of New Yorkers and this shutdown will only exacerbate the problems he has caused. With Congress controlled by powers that would harm our state, New Yorkers should feel confident that their state government will continue to provide the everyday services they rely on, with or without help from Washington.”
Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar said, “The lives of millions of New Yorkers are at risk today due to an ideological game of brinkmanship playing out in Washington. Continuity of government is essential to our democracy, yet this shutdown is taking food out of the mouths of our fellow New Yorkers, pulling the plug on our healthcare system, picking the pockets of women and children, and giving the boot to people needing housing assistance. For the sake of New York and our nation, we must rise above the extremism permeating politics, and orient our moral compass to common sense, unity, and problem-solving. I am proud to partner with Governor Hochul to deliver real solutions to uplift New Yorkers. Together, New York will stand up to Washington extremists and be the epicenter of the unifying, practical leadership our Nation needs.”
Assemblymember Grace Lee said, “Trump and Republicans in Washington are once again putting politics before people. This reckless shutdown will harm millions of New Yorkers, stripping away food assistance, health care, and critical support for women and children. I stand with Governor Hochul to hold Republicans accountable for the damage they are causing to our communities.”
Assemblymember Nikki Lucas said, “A government shutdown is not only reckless, but completely irresponsible on the part of Washington Republicans and President Trump. This is just another example of them putting the people of these United States last. I urge House Democrats to stay strong and continue fighting back. The residents of district 60 in East New York, Brownsville and Canarsie, like communities across our city and country, are relying on all of us to be responsible stewards of their present and future.”
Assemblymember Larinda C. Hooks said, “This shutdown is more than a government issue, it’s a family issue. It means parents worried about whether they can take their child to the doctor, seniors questioning if they can afford their medicine, and neighbors wondering how they’ll put food on the table. In times like these, our communities deserve stability and peace of mind. As a democrat, I will stand firm and not bend to the will of the Washington Republicans who intend to take away the people’s ability to survive.”
Assemblymember Tony Simone said, “Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans have betrayed the American people. This stunning refusal to ensure our hard earned tax dollars be used to keep our hospitals and farms running, to keep children from going hungry, to keep housing aid from the most vulnerable among us, all in the name of tax cuts for the wealthy and an ego-driven trade war, is shameful and outright theft from our pockets.”
Assemblymember John Zaccaro, Jr. said, “President Trump’s government shutdown is nothing short of a dereliction of his duty and his oath of office. New Yorkers, many of whom live in the Bronx, have already been devastated by the President’s reckless agenda. Now, the President wants to shut down the government—forcing nearly 2.8 million New Yorkers to lose SNAP benefits, putting 442,000 women and children who rely on WIC at risk, delaying housing vouchers, stalling hospitals waiting for federal reimbursements, and leaving farmers without emergency aid. The President is willing to decimate the working class and shut down the government simply to hand his billionaire and millionaire cronies a tax break.”
Assemblymember Micah Lasher said, “Trump and Congressional Republicans have hijacked the federal government and stripped it for parts. They’ve robbed 1.5 million New Yorkers of their health coverage and taken food stamps from hundreds of thousands more — all while making billions for Donald Trump and his family and giving tax breaks to Trump’s rich friends. They now seek to pass the most unfair, unconscionable spending bill we have ever seen. No one who is a patriot should go along for this ride,” said Assemblymember Micah Lasher. “We in New York believe in making sure working families have the basic necessities, not bigger yachts for Trump and his pals. We demand that Congress put an end to the cruelty and the corruption.”
Assemblymember Emerita Torres said, “New Yorkers deserve leaders who will fight for them, not politicians who undermine their livelihoods. A federal government shutdown will strip vital services and programs from millions of New York families, including healthcare and food programs, as well as veteran support. As a former federal worker who was furloughed during Trump’s first government shutdown, I know firsthand the stress and financial uncertainty these reckless political stunts can cause. While Republicans continue to follow Trump’s dangerous agenda, I stand with the Governor and New York Democrats in putting our communities first.”
Amidst Uncertainty at the CDC, Governor Takes Action To Protect Access to Life-Saving Vaccines
Department of Financial Services Guidance Strongly Encourages Commercial Insurers To Continue Covering 100 Percent of the Costs of Recommended Vaccines
In light of continued attacks on science and health care from the federal government, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced new action to protect vaccine access across New York State. The New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) is issuing guidance to insurers encouraging them to continue covering all vaccines recommended by The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) as of today’s date. ACIP has long been responsible for issuing recommendations on vaccine use to control disease in the United States, and insurers typically provide coverage of vaccines based on ACIP recommendations. Today’s publication also reminds insurers of previously issued guidance requiring insurers to cover COVID vaccines for children. In addition, the guidance urges insurers to encourage employers and other entities who provide self-funded health care coverage to continue covering the cost of vaccines. Today’s action builds upon Governor Hochul’s Executive Order allowing pharmacists to administer COVID vaccines to ensure New Yorkers can receive the updated 2025-26 COVID shot.
“New Yorkers deserve to have the resources available to get vaccinated if they choose to, and Republicans in Washington should not be able to take that from them,” Governor Hochul said.“Vaccines not only prevent people from getting sick — they can save lives and prevent the spread of infectious diseases, especially as we approach our colder seasons and our children are back in schools.”
New York State Superintendent of Financial Services Adrienne A. Harris said,“Public health experts have been clear that vaccines are an essential tool in combating the spread of infectious diseases and lowering the cost of health care. The cost of a vaccine should not be a barrier to this critical care. DFS strongly encourages insurers to continue to provide comprehensive vaccine coverage for all New Yorkers.”
“In 2024, we lost 2,775 New Yorkers related to COVID, that is enough to fill 7 jumbo jets,” said New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. “Vaccines are the best protection from serious illness and hospitalization. I want to thank Governor Hochul for her leadership in taking swift action to ensure that vaccines remain accessible and affordable for families across our state. By safeguarding coverage and availability, we can prevent illness, save lives and keep our communities healthy as we head into the colder months.”
New York is also working in coordination with — and helping to lead — a regional multi-state public health collaboration among Northeast states, which brings together public health leaders across the region to develop evidence-based recommendations and approaches on vaccination, disease surveillance, and emergency preparedness. The collaborative also supports state public health laboratories in sharing resources and expertise to strengthen regional readiness.
450,000 New Yorkers At Risk of Losing Healthcare Due to GOP Cuts
Meanwhile, Governor Hochul is raising alarms that 450,000 New Yorkers are in jeopardy of losing health care. Cuts imposed by Washington Republicans are expected to have a significant impact, with an anticipated nearly $13 billion affecting New Yorkers healthcare system. Additionally, approximately 1.5 million New Yorkers are projected to lose their health insurance coverage, while over 300,000 households are expected to lose some or all of their SNAP benefits.
“For months, I’ve warned that Washington Republicans’ devastating cuts would rip health care away from New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul stated. “Today, we have no choice but to confront that reality.
“Nearly 1.7 million New Yorkers rely on the [state’s] Essential Plan for health care – working moms and dads, families living paycheck to paycheck, people doing everything right and still struggling to get by. The Big Ugly Bill forced through by Donald Trump and Republicans puts every single one of them at risk of losing their care. I refuse to stand by while Washington punishes vulnerable New Yorkers. That’s why today, I’m taking action to preserve health care for 1.3 million people by shifting their coverage to our state’s Basic Health Program, allowing us to access emergency funds that would otherwise not be available.”
But, she added, even with these steps, 450,000 New Yorkers are at risk of losing their care.
“That includes 127,000 people represented by New York’s seven Republican Members of Congress, who are abandoning their own constituents to hand out tax breaks for the wealthy,” Hochul declared. “It doesn’t have to be this way. If Republicans give a damn about protecting health care for their constituents, they can act right now to pass a three-year delay of HR1’s cuts to health care eligibility and keep every New Yorker on the Essential Plan covered. And in the meantime, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services needs to work with us to identify more low-cost health insurance options for New Yorkers.
“There is still work to do here in New York. Many of the 1.7 million people on the Essential Plan are working part time, including at big retailers and other companies that deliberately limit hours to avoid covering health care. It’s time for these employers to stop passing the cost on to taxpayers and start providing coverage for their workers.
“The message from across our state is clear: we can act together and stop these devastating impacts before it’s too late.”
Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie stated, ‘”Losing the Essential Plan is a devastating blow to hard working New Yorkers brought on due to the draconian measures implemented by the federal government in their Big Terrible Bill. Representatives Elise Stefanik, Mike Lawler, Nick LaLota, Nicole Malliotakis, Andrew Garbarino, Claudia Tenney and Nick Langworthy voted to give their billionaire donors the gift of tax breaks and tax cuts, and now hardworking New Yorkers will have to bear the fallout because of their actions.
“This will have ripples across our healthcare system, putting more stress on already overburdened emergency rooms and causing almost half a million people to lose access to healthcare. Make no mistake, this will affect every single New Yorker, and no amount of obfuscating and gaslighting by our Republican members of Congress can change that. I will continue to work with my partners at all levels of government to try and find solutions to protect New Yorkers from the cruelty that the administration in Washington continues to push.”
$14.4 Billion in Lost Hospital-Generated Economic Activity, Resulting From $8 Billion in Cuts Targeting New York Hospitals and Health Systems
65,000 Jobs Lost Due to Cuts to Hospitals and Community Health Centers Serving Low Income New Yorkers
1.5 Million New Yorkers Will Lose Health Care Coverage
As the Senate voted to pass the Trump Administration and Washington Republicans’ “Big Ugly Bill,” Governor Kathy Hochul today sounded the alarm about the potential devastating consequences of the Bill on New York hospitals, health systems and patients statewide. These reckless cuts to Medicaid and the Essential Plan will significantly impact health care providers across the State, endangering the health and finances of many New Yorkers who rely on these providers.
“I’ve said it several times and I’ll say it again today — all New Yorkers deserve access to high-quality health care, it’s that simple,”Governor Hochul said. “Republicans in Washington, including seven representing New York, are trying to rip away this basic human right from New Yorkers and I will not stand by and watch it happen, I’m standing up for our hardworking hospitals and families who rely on this care to survive.”
Hospitals and other health care providers across New York rely on Medicaid and Essential Plan funding to provide needed care to patients and maintain their operations.
Hospitals and health systems play a vital role in driving local economies. They often serve as the largest employers in their communities, creating numerous other jobs and ranking among the top 10 private employers in every region of New York. When hospitals are stronger, their communities thrive. GNYHA and HANYS estimate that the hospital cuts will lead to 34,000 lost hospital jobs and an additional 29,000 lost related jobs, and create a cumulative $14.4 billion in lost hospital-generated economic activity, devastating communities across New York.
Unfortunately, many New York hospitals are already financially distressed. The collective impact of the GOP reconciliation bill in Washington, D.C., could force hospitals to curtail critically needed services such as maternity care and psychiatric treatment, not to mention to downsize operations, and even close entirely. These impacts will be devastating across the State, and especially in rural communities. These consequences will not only affect Medicaid enrollees, but also harm everyone who requires hospital care, leading to longer wait times and less access to critical services.
In addition to hospitals, every kind of health care provider in New York State will be impacted. The Community Health Care Association of New York State estimates a direct loss of $300M for the State’s Community Health Centers, resulting in almost 2,000 layoffs. Community Health Centers are a vital lifeline that provide care to one in eight New Yorkers, regardless of their ability to pay.
In June, a letter signed by Yale and University of Pennsylvania scientists warned that more than 51,000 preventable deaths could occur annually if the provisions in the House-passed budget reconciliation bill are enacted. The letter, addressed to Senator Ron Wyden and Senator Bernie Sanders, estimates the potential nationwide death toll that would result from the bill’s provisions including restricting Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage, repealing nursing home staffing regulations, and allowing Enhanced Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credits to expire. These estimates would make the GOP bill a top ten cause of death in the United States, on par with kidney disease and liver disease.
Estimated Impact of Hospital Cuts by New York Economic Region
Member
Hospital employment losses
Total employment losses
Lost economic activity ($)
New York City
17,551
32,571
(7,405,661,000)
Long Island
3,514
6,521
(1,482,704,000)
Mid-Hudson
3,623
6,723
(1,528,578,000)
Capital District
1,042
1,933
(439,512,000)
North Country
759
1,409
(320,385,000)
Mohawk Valley
774
1,437
(326,619,000)
Southern Tier
856
1,588
(360,983,000)
Central New York
1,355
2,515
(571,928,000)
Finger Lakes
2,442
4,532
(1,030,506,000)
Western New York
2,130
3,954
(898,943,000)
Statewide total
34,047
63,183
(14,365,818,000)
Estimated Impact of Hospital Cuts by Congressional District
District
Member
Hospital employment losses
Total employment losses
Lost economic activity ($)
1
Nick LaLota (R)
976
1,811
(411,868,000)
2
Andrew R. Garbarino (R)
605
1,122
(255,206,000)
3
Thomas R. Suozzi (D)
1,927
3,576
(812,998,000)
4
Laura Gillen (D)
933
1,731
(393,628,000)
5
Gregory W. Meeks (D)
563
1,045
(237,515,000)
6
Grace Meng (D)
1,876
3,481
(791,359,000)
7
Nydia M. Velázquez (D)
862
1,599
(363,593,000)
8
Hakeem S. Jeffries (D)
790
1,466
(333,226,000)
9
Yvette D. Clarke (D)
1,178
2,187
(497,231,000)
10
Daniel S. Goldman (D)
1,457
2,705
(614,953,000)
11
Nicole Malliotakis (R)
654
1,213
(275,762,000)
12
Jerrold Nadler (D)
2,803
5,201
(1,182,612,000)
13
Adriano Espaillat (D)
2,520
4,677
(1,063,292,000)
14
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D)
980
1,819
(413,640,000)
15
Ritchie Torres (D)
2,942
5,460
(1,241,482,000)
16
George Latimer (D)
1,278
2,372
(539,332,000)
17
Michael Lawler (R)
1,462
2,713
(616,822,000)
18
Patrick Ryan (D)
810
1,503
(341,631,000)
19
Josh Riley (D)
797
1,479
(336,292,000)
20
Paul Tonko (D)
1,002
1,860
(422,977,000)
21
Elise M. Stefanik (R)
871
1,616
(367,481,000)
22
John W. Mannion (D)
1,536
2,850
(648,033,000)
23
Nicholas A. Langworthy (R)
759
1,409
(320,347,000)
24
Claudia Tenney (R)
1,009
1,873
(425,748,000)
25
Joseph D. Morelle (D)
1,899
3,524
(801,274,000)
26
Timothy M. Kennedy (D)
1,558
2,892
(657,525,000)
–
Statewide total
34,047
63,183
(14,365,818,000)
Greater New York Hospital Association President Kenneth E. Raske said, “This bill’s massive Medicaid cuts and health insurance eligibility restrictions will do enormous damage to New York State and its hospitals. The numbers are hard to comprehend—an estimated $8 billion cut to our hospitals, 34,000 lost hospital jobs and 1.5 million individuals losing their health insurance. Some financially fragile institutions will cease to exist. All patients will be impacted. There is no rationale for this. The bill is a clear example of ‘if you break it, you own it.’ I am grateful to Governor Hochul for defending New York’s hospitals and the patients we serve, and the entire hospital community is proud to stand with her in opposing this terrible bill.”
Healthcare Association of New York State President Bea Grause, RN, JD. said, “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a reckless assault on our healthcare system and our local economies, as evidenced by these projections. Lost coverage, care, jobs – it is astonishing to me that there is such determination to put so many people’s health and financial security at risk. This bill will not only harm individual New Yorkers. Its impact will ripple out to their families and communities, leaving almost no one untouched in its wake.”
Community Health Care Association of New York State President & CEO Rose Duhan said, “New York’s Community Health Centers provide access to primary and preventive care that keep people healthy and save money. Cutting Medicaid will put that care at risk for 2.4 million people across the State. Losing Medicaid will mean communities will lose CHCs that provide primary care, behavioral health, dental services, and more. Cuts of this magnitude will force impossible choices: reduce services, scale back hours, or turn patients away. Congress must protect Medicaid and the patients and health centers that depend on it.”
Speaker Carl E. Heastie stated: The administration in Washington can call this a “Big Beautiful Bill” all they want, but Americans know the truth. It is ugly and cruel and will be devastating for families across New York and across the country. They are taking an axe to Medicaid and cutting off access to healthcare for low income families, children and people with disabilities. They’re restricting access to the ACA for low- and middle-income Americans. It would make almost 12 million Americans lose their health insurance. All to make sure their billionaire donors get to keep their tax cuts. I’m disgusted and disappointed that they are willing to sell out their constituents like this. I am calling, once again, on New York’s seven Republican members of Congress to stand up for New Yorkers and for all Americans and vote against this travesty when it goes back to the House.
Governor Kathy Hochul is enacting an Affordability Agenda focused on making New York State affordable, especially in housing and higher minimum wages, and reducing out-of-pocket expenses. But New York Congressional Republicans are aiding and abetting the Trump/MAGA agenda that will undue all that effort, blowing a hole in the state’s budget by cutting billions in federal aid and support for programs, despite the fact New York State sends way more to the Treasury than DC sends back to the state.
The threat to health care is particularly acute from Trump’s “Big Ugly Bill”:
More than 240,000 New Yorkers would experience higher health insurance premiums as a result of eliminating American Rescue Plan enhanced tax credits and Additional Changes
Average monthly costs could rise by more than $228 — an increase of 38% for a couple — due to elimination of Enhanced Tax Credits
Estimated 65,000 to 80,000 New Yorkers – approximately one-third of enrollees, could lose individual marketplace coverage
Governor Kathy Hochul today released new data showing the massive impact the GOP’s ‘Big Ugly’ Reconciliation Bill would have on New York families. The latest bill threatens to severely disrupt health coverage for millions of New Yorkers. In addition to increasing the number of uninsured by 1.5 million and stripping $13.5 billion in annual funding from New York’s healthcare system, the bill would trigger steep increases in private health insurance premiums for vulnerable New Yorkers and impose excessive burdens on consumers enrolling through NY State of Health, the State’s official health plan marketplace.
“The GOP’s Big Ugly bill would slash health care coverage for millions of New Yorkers and raise monthly costs by hundreds of dollars,” Governor Hochul said. “If New York’s Republican delegation won’t stand up for their own constituents, I will.”
Health care providers, insurers and state leaders across the country are sounding the alarm over the proposed legislation, which would slash billions in federal health care support. In addition to jeopardizing and in some cases entirely eliminating coverage for New York’s 1.6 million Essential Plan enrollees, the bill would trigger steep increases in costs for many New Yorkers who purchase private health insurance. The elimination of American Rescue Plan enhanced premium tax credits, alone, will increase net cost of coverage across the State by an average of 38 percent for 140,000 low-income individuals and families purchasing plans through the state’s marketplace. This equates to an increase in cost of $114 per month for an individual and $228 per month for a couple.
See below for a summary of expected premium increases due to the elimination of American Rescue Plan enhanced premium tax credits across the State:
Region
Average Monthly Cost Increase For a Couple ($)
Average Monthly Cost Increase For a Couple (%)
New York City
$211
38%
Mid-Hudson
$206
31%
Long Island
$219
32%
Capital Region
$231
33%
Western New York
$267
38%
Central New York
$256
43%
Finger Lakes
$248
42%
Mohawk Valley
$270
49%
Southern Tier
$265
48%
North Country
$253
44%
Statewide
$228
38%
The combined impact of the elimination of enhanced premium tax credits and additional provisions of the proposed U.S. House Republican reconciliation bill will push more healthy consumers out of the insurance market, leaving behind a less healthy population and driving further rate increases. This cycle will result in spiraling insurance costs and lack of access to coverage for individuals and families.
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “The proposed cuts to federal health care support hurt everyone. These cuts take health insurance away from working New Yorkers. They undermine the progress we’ve made in providing affordable and accessible health insurance to New Yorkers. When people lose health insurance, they risk going without needed health care or suffering financial hardship.”
In addition to increasing premiums for low-income individuals and families who qualify for tax credits, it is estimated that the elimination of those tax credits will increase insurance rates for the more than 100,000 New Yorkers who purchase coverage in the individual commercial market but do not qualify for tax credits. Insurers have estimated that those consumers and families will face a 4.3 percent increase in their insurance rates next year solely due to the elimination of these credits.
Early estimates also indicate the proposed bill could result in 65,000 to 80,000 people — approximately one-third of enrollees in the individual market — losing their coverage. Many more consumers will experience significant new red tape that will make it harder to enroll in and renew coverage.
The proposed bill would also strip New York of its flexibility and autonomy in running its own marketplace and serving the needs of its residents, imposing onerous and costly new administrative burdens on the State. The State anticipates more than $10 million in new administrative costs to implement the changes required by the bill.
NY State of Health Executive Director Danielle Holahan said,“We have tremendous concerns about the compounding effects of this bill especially when combined with the expiration of the premium tax credits. Reducing eligibility for the financial assistance that helps New Yorkers afford care means people end up paying more for doctor visits, medications, and mental health care. Already struggling providers, especially in rural parts of the state, might not be able to sustain operations under this proposal, further restricting New Yorkers’ access to care.”
New York has had tremendous success over the past 12 years in operating its marketplace — with 6.7 million individuals currently enrolled in coverage — and has achieved a statewide uninsured rate of less than 5 percent, the lowest rate amongst large states across the country. This bill would reverse decades of progress in expanding coverage and making health care more affordable and accessible in New York and jeopardize the health of consumers across the State.
Leaders of Long Island’s health care, social service organizations and environmental groups warned of the damaging impacts to lives “of neighbors, family, community” as a result of the funding cuts in the Republican budget bill (known as Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”) that passed the House in the middle of the night by a single vote. The bill, while slashing Medicaid, SNAP, clean energy projects and raising costs, delivers the needless tax cuts to the wealthiest, and will explode the national debt by $3.3 trillion.
As the Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee reported, the “GOP Tax Scam” cuts nearly $1 trillion from the health care system – effectively chipping away if not repealing entirely the Affordable Care Act – eliminating health coverage for at least 13.7 million Americans including 1.5 million New Yorkers.
The largest cut to hospitals and healthcare providers in history, will raise costs for consumers, shift costs to states and cut payments to providers, and make it harder for people to get and keep affordable health coverage.. People who no longer have access to care early and in clinics, will be forced to go to emergency rooms when they are sicker, at much higher cost. Since New York and other states guarantee access to health care, that results in higher taxes and higher premiums on private insurance – so even if you thought that these historic cuts to Medicaid would not impact you, they will.
The bill cuts a historic $700 billion in Medicaid; $267 billion in SNAP benefits; triggers $490 billion in Medicare cuts; and would result in 10 million Americans losing health insurance, all to deliver an average tax break for the top 0.1 percent of $225,000, paid for by taking away the services from millions of the most vulnerable people who will suffer from the loss in services the most, while still resulting in exploding the national debt by $3.8 trillion.
The proposed healthcare cuts in the House-passed reconciliation package represent the largest cut to hospitals and healthcare providers in history. The bill eliminates health coverage for at least 13.7 million Americans, including 1.5 million New Yorkers. It raises costs for consumers, shifts costs to states and cuts payments to providers, and makes it harder for people to get and keep affordable health coverage.
Nearly 7 million New Yorkers benefit from Medicaid. New York State estimates these changes will cost New York $13.4B per year. NYS currently spends $35.5B per year in state dollars on Medicaid.
Hospital losses in NYS will exceed $1.3B annually due to an increase in uncompensated care and reduced reimbursements. According to the Fiscal Policy Institute, Long Island will lose almost 30,000 jobs as a result.
Congressmembers Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen, Democrats of Nassau County, brought together community leaders at the YES Community Counseling Center in Levittown, Long Island, to address the impact of cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and other essential safety net programs.
“I have serious concerns about the reconciliation and budget plan for several reasons,” said Rep. Suozzi. “Most notably, the package includes callous cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other vital programs that support hospitals, nursing homes, and children’s care centers. These cuts will significantly undermine the delivery of healthcare services, putting access and quality of care at risk for everyone.”
“Additionally, the reconciliation package expands tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans—those who need them the least,” Suozzi continued. “While implementing these deep and harmful cuts, the budget plan also adds significantly to the national deficit.”
“I’m all for making people’s lives better with the SALT deduction, but we don’t need to cut taxes for wealthiest while taking away health insurance and food assistance from people who need it most,” Suozzi said.
People making more than $1 million per year would have an average tax cut of almost $90,000. The top 5% would receive almost half of the total tax cuts
Rep. Gillen said, “Being factual, not fear mongering, there are real life impacts these cuts will have on neighbors, friends, our own wallets. When Medicaid cuts go through, it will increase premiums on private insurance. Cuts to SNAP, to Island Harvest, will have devastating impact. When health care costs go up, parents won’t eat to have money for child’s medication.
“Be honest: all this is cost shifting scheme to make it look like they are making cuts to be fiscally responsible, but they are increasing deficit, while shifting the burden to New York State to pick up bill for what federal government will no longer be spending in New York to feed hungry. If New York has to pick up the bill, our taxes will go up in one of most highly taxed places, because we [in New York] take care of our poor, our elderly.
“What kind of country do we want to be? One that cares about the vulnerable or only cares about those who pay to play?
”There is no greater champion for eliminating waste fraud abuse [than me], but this is about putting up roadblock to those who need assistance to get ahead.” Gillen said.
This budget bill, Northwell Health CEO Michael Dowling declared, “is undermining our commitment to public health and health overall – not just hospitals and ambulatory clinics, but everything. It is a curtailment of protecting people against pollution, against commitment to dealing with gun violence, undermining major commitment to research and science across the board – 50% reduction in funding for National Institutes of Health – [engendering] the idea that science is bad, that science doesn’t work. We’re all healthier because of commitment to science of last 50 years. What is happening is undermining of trust in government, trust in organizations.
“We also see an assault on international partnerships and alliances – eliminating the alliance with the World Health Organization which provides us across the board information on what happening around world healthwise, alerting us to what might happen here.
“It is a devaluation of past successes we’ve all had. Taken all together, it sends the message we don’t care much about health, wellbeing, people’s livelihoods, especially those not at top echelon, that we can’t trust anything unless we tell you what we want you to trust,” Dowling declared.
Turning to the specifics of the budget bill, Dowling noted “the implications are larger than you think.” It will reduce revenue by $370 million; cut Medicaid by $200 million; curtailing eligibility for Medicaid will render 1.5 million people in New York ineligible for Medicaid. The bill also cuts millions from Northwell’s research. (Northwell is the largest employer in New York State.)
“It’s about what we believe in – health, environment. This is the opposite. We should be going forward, not backward – help people more, not taking away for which people fought so many years to get, and assume it doesn’t matter – it’s about a philosophy of government, about caring, it’s what you believe in. Up here, we believe America is better than this. We have got to make sure this is curtailed and can be reversed as the bill goes into the Senate,” Dowling said.
Wendy Darwell, President and CEO of Suburban Hospital Alliance of New York State, noted, “The numbers here for health care are staggering – $1 trillion in health care cuts in all, means $13.5 billion in cuts to New York State; 1.5 million will lose insurance coverage; $150 million cut a year to Nassau and Suffolk hospitals. It is not possible for New York State to absorb $13.5 billion hit without cutting benefits, eligibility, providers.
“The numbers are hard to relate to. You may think the cuts may hit somebody else, but they hit everybody. People who need care will continue regardless of insurance or not, so will come to the ER without insurance, get care in the most expensive way, probably when they are much sicker. Instead of spending a little money on coverage, we will spend a lot on emergencies, and most will get charity care. That destabilizes the healthcare infrastructure – health systems will have to respond. It will be hard to retain the level of service, the kind of access as now.
“If don’t think this applies to you, you will likely face longer wait times at the ER, less access to service in community, it will be harder to get appointments to see doctor. It cuts across the health care system.”
Most people do not realize how expansive the state’s health insurance coverage options are now because of the funding system, but could include the adult child who aged off insurance at 26 (thanks Obamacare!); a parent in nursing home. In absence of a better option, Medicaid is long term care insurance for New Yorkers.
Cuts will have impact on commercial insurance, because costs will have to be offset – if you have private insurance, you won’t be immune either. From a hospital perspective: the median operating margin in New York State 0%, so any cuts put that margin into negative.Cuts this staggering can’t be absorbed and will fundamentally destabilize the state’s healthcare system.”
Congressman Suozzi noted,”I’’m in a relatively wealthy district, yet 29% of children in my district [40% nationally] rely on Medicaid for health insurance; two out of three senior citizens in nursing homes in America are covered by Medicaid, one out of 10 of vets in America are covered by Medicaid. Think of the children, the elderly, the disabled that will be impacted by this.”
Dr. Shetal Shah, Past President of American Academy of Pediatrics NY Chapter 2 (Long Island) said, the House bill jeopardizes health of 37 million children across country at risk.
“Medicaid is foundational to children’s health in New York State – 49% of all newborns are covered by Medicaid; 44% depend upon Medicaid for life saving asthma medication…Medicaid is for all of us -not just for people more socially vulnerable.” Even if you get insurance through your employer there are annual caps on coverage. “if you are unlucky to have a newborn with congenital heart lesion, you will surpass the limits in a matter of weeks; few could afford the tens of thousands a day to care.” Medicaid can be the difference between selling a home to pay for medical debt. “It is a safety net for all of us – sad fact is most don’t think about it until we need it.”
Also, hospitals rely on each other to provide high level care across Long Island and state – children’s hospitals across Long Island are shared resources, specialized resources. Medicaid helps keep them open, but drastic cuts are a threat that hospitals will close. Then we all lose community resources – pediatric ER , specialized burn and rehabilitation, pediatric dialysis and intensive care centers.
“Make no mistake: these cuts will cause all of us to pay more; will detach children from primary care; simple problems that could be addressed in clinic become bigger problems in ER; and private insurance will raise premiums to offset costs.”
Mental health services are also jeopardized, at a time when the state and Long Island are still struggling under a mental health crisis, with overdoses and suicides.
Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds, President and CEO, Family and Children’s Association, said his agency serves 36,000 children facing drug addiction, mental health crises, and suicidal ideation.
“It’s no secret this country, this state, and Long Island struggled under mental health crisis since covid – number of overdoses – over time – more than 1 in 4 adults have demonstrated symptoms of anxiety and depression; one in six kids contemplated suicide. The single largest payer of children’s mental healthcare is Medicaid
“Things are starting to get better in attempted suicides, suicides, involuntary placements, school avoidance. It’s undeniable – one of the ways we’ve made any progress has been through Medicaid programs that support mental health, that support facilities to support kids considering taking own life. We could take a victory lap in drop in opioid overdoses – decrease in fatalities is cause to celebrate but not for too long – 30,000 didn’t die. But 80,000 Americans did die – nothing to celebrate.”
“Now is not the time to rip the rug from out from under families, hospitals, communities, folks who spent 10 years looking for hope in midst of crisis – finally have glimmer of hope only for Washington to take away. Everyday average folks should understand that this could happen to any one’s family – make sure care and treatment available, speak up now.”
(Reminder: Republicans are constantly blaming the gun violence epidemic on mental health, rather than the unconscionable easy access to weapons of war, but do nothing to provide mental health services. Instead, as Suozzi pointed out, the budget bill repeals a $200 fee and requirement to register “unusual or dangerous firearm accessories like silencers that dates from 1934, and that brought $145 million in revenue on 710,000 silencers sold in the USA in 2024. “They gut the Affordable Care Act, but make it easier to buy silencer,” Suozzi said.]
The Republican “Big Beautiful Bill” cuts funding for Narcan that has saved thousands of people who would have died from overdoses, and for drug treatment. And Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is sitting on $100 million in federal money to address opioid addiction, noted Larry Lamendola, Co-Chair of Levittown Community Action Coalition.
The House bill would also impact more than 7000 who depend on disability services – housing, employment services, transportation, day services, and direct support from meals to medication. In New York, medicaid funds 95% of services overseen by office of disability services to organizations like AHRC, said Nicole Zerillo, Director of Strategic Communications of AHRC.
Medicaid is a shared federal and state program. When the federal share shrinks, the state has to choose whether to reduce services, put people on wait list. More staff leave, smaller providers close and people with developmental disabilities lose the supports they need to live safely.
New York spends $850 million, “but continued investment relies on a sustainable federal match. We can’t afford to backslide. Forcing people to recertify Medicaid eligibility twice year won’t improve accuracy or root out fraud, it will just limit coverage,” she said.
“The Republican Budget bill “undoes 75 years of progress to help move from institutions to inclusion [note: that is the DEI that Trump has declared “illegal.”]
“The bill risks cutting critical supports – and pushing people back to margin: protect Medicaid, right to live in community and protect the future spent generations building.”
Randi Shubin Dresner, President and CEO of Island Harvest, noted that 2.8 million New Yorkers – 14% of the population – depend on SNAP dollars. It’s not just about giving people who are vulnerable money so they can buy food. That money is spent in local supermarkets, delis, bodegas, with an $11.5 billion impact on local businesses in New York State.
The cuts in SNAP will take 9.5 billion means off the table every year, across the country. Every meal supports a person. 9.5 billion meals are at risk for our neighbors, relatives most in need.
Cuts have already impacted Island Harvest – $1.7 million in cuts has taken a million meals off the table.
“Many Long Islanders don’t qualify for SNAP benefits because the cost of living is so high on Long Island. So why in one of the richest communities, richest zipcodes, is Island Harvest helping over 200,000 people each year? Because it is one ecosystem- so if there are cuts in others – housing, mental health, Medicaid – it always means people have to make decisions about where to cut in family budget. The easiest is food budget – we eat 3 meals a day, countless parents are giving up 1 or 2 meals in order to fed children, pay med gills and transportation to doctor. If there are more cuts , they will cut more meals at home. Young mothers have to water down formula for their infant to make it through the day.”
Besides the direct impacts on health care, Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” slashes funding for clean energy and climate action, in order to force people back to relying on fossil fuels that impact health and contribute to pollution, global warming, climate change and climate disasters.
“This big ugly bill takes us back to 1960s energy policy,” declared Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “Today, we are implementing 21st century energy policy for the 21st century, tomorrow, we will be taken back to the 1960s. This bill derails the clean energy sector, one of fastest growing job ;sectors in America.”
Since Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, over 2000 new industry, manufacturing companies have been created in the U.S.; $289 billion in private sector investment; 130,000 jobs in clean energy. This bill completely eliminates the tax credit for solar, for residential and commercial. Low income and working class Americans are using the tax credits, not to save the planet but because of affordability and stability to home energy gills.
It eliminates all tax credits for electric vehicles – workign class and mid-income residents were using to add affordability to their transportation, so they aren’t at the mercy of unpredictable and expensive gas prices.
It does away with all tax credits for energy efficiency – appliances, HVAC systems, changing windows that made homes warmer in winter, cooler in summer, and helped stretch dollars and save energy.
While removing incentives for clean energy, the bill promotes “Drill, baby, drill,” – going back to oil and natural gas that will increase air pollution – asthma, heart attacks, respiratory illness, premature deaths, water contamination, and increase and accelerate the impacts of climate change – which Long Island cares about. Overall, taking us back in energy policy is bad for health, It makes no sense, unless you are invested in the oil industry..
Suozzi and Gillen noted that House Democrats attempted to amend the budget bill – offering 500 different amendments over the marathon sessions in committees and on the floor – all of which were shot down by Republicans, who even shot down raising taxes on those earning $100 million a year.
President Biden announces final rule that will allow eligible DACA recipients to enroll in Affordable Care Act coverage. Some 100,000 DACA recipients are expected to take advantage of this opportunity. This fact sheet is provided by the White House:
The Biden-Harris Administration is expanding access to affordable, quality health care coverage to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. In 2012, President Obama and then Vice President Biden created the DACA policy to transform the lives of eligible Dreamers – young people who came to this country as children—allowing them to live and work lawfully in our country. Over the last decade, DACA has brought stability, possibility, and progress to hundreds of thousands of Dreamers.
While President Biden continues to call on Congress to provide a pathway to citizenship to Dreamers and others, he is committed to protecting and preserving DACA and providing Dreamers with the opportunities and support they need to succeed, including access to affordable, quality health care coverage. Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s actions, today’s final rule will remove the prohibition on DACA recipients’ eligibility for Affordable Care Act coverage for the first time, and is projected to help more than 100,000 young people gain health insurance. Starting in November, DACA recipients can apply for coverage through HealthCare.gov and state-based marketplaces, where they may qualify for financial assistance to help them purchase quality health insurance. Four out of five consumers have found a plan for less than $10 a month, with millions saving an average of about $800 a year on their premiums.
President Biden and Vice President Harris believe that health care should be a right, not a privilege. Together, they promised to protect and strengthen the Affordable Care Act, lowering costs and expanding coverage so that every American has the peace of mind that health insurance brings. Today’s final rule delivers on the President’s commitment by giving DACA recipients that same peace and opportunity.
Today’s rule also reinforces the President’s enduring commitment to DACA recipients and Dreamers, who contribute daily to the strength and vitality of our communities and our country. On day one of his Administration, President Biden committed to preserving and fortifying the DACA policy. While only Congress can provide Dreamers permanent status and a pathway to citizenship, the Biden-Harris Administration has continued to vigorously defend DACA against ongoing legal challenges and strengthened DACA by codifying the 2012 policy in a final rule.
Statement from President Joe Biden:
Today, my Administration is expanding affordable, quality health care coverage to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. Dreamers are our loved ones, our nurses, teachers, and small business owners. And they deserve the promise of health care just like all of us.
Nearly twelve years ago, President Obama and I announced the DACA program to allow our young people to live and work in the only country they’ve called home. Since then, DACA has provided more than 800,000 Dreamers with the ability to work lawfully, pursue an education, and contribute their immense talents to make our communities better and stronger.
I’m proud of the contributions of Dreamers to our country and committed to providing Dreamers the support they need to succeed. That’s why I’ve previously directed the Department of Homeland Security to take all appropriate actions to “preserve and fortify” DACA. And that’s why today we are taking this historic step to ensure that DACA recipients have the same access to health care through the Affordable Care Act as their neighbors.
On Day One of my administration, I sent a comprehensive immigration reform plan to Congress to protect Dreamers and their families. Only Congress can provide Dreamers permanent status and a pathway to citizenship. Congress must act.
Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris:
Dreamers throughout this country are serving in our military, teaching in our classrooms, and leading our small businesses as entrepreneurs. They are our neighbors, classmates, and loved ones. Our nation is fortunate that America is their home.
Thanks to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), more than 800,000 Dreamers have been able to live, study, and work in the only home they have ever known while making our nation a better place. It is why I fought to defend and protect DACA as Attorney General of California and a U.S. Senator from California.
Now as Vice President, I have worked alongside President Biden to take steps to preserve and fortify DACA. Today, we are building on this progress by ensuring DACA recipients also have access to affordable health care, which will improve the health of all communities. This announcement will bring relief to more than 100,000 people and help them thrive while working to achieve their aspirations.
President Biden and I will continue to do everything in our power to protect DACA, but it is only a temporary solution. Congress must act to ensure Dreamers have the permanent protections they deserve.
Contrast to Trump Position on DACA, ACA
In stark contrast to Biden’s support of DACA and ACA, Trump tried to dismantle the DACA program which had protected 700,000 young people who were brought to this country as children from deportation, eventually losing at the Supreme Court.
And Trump tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act – failed – and is vowing to try again if he wins in November. What this would mean for Americans:
More than 100 million Americans with preexisting conditions could be denied coverage or charged more
40 million people’s health insurance coverage at risk
Health care costs would increase for the millions of Americans
Young adults up to age 26 could be kicked off their parent’s health care plan
These advancements in long-term care to support the care economy are the latest the Biden-Harris Administration has taken to improve safety, provide support for care workers and family caregivers, and to expand access to affordable, high-quality care. This fact sheet is provided by the White House:
Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and to have access to quality care. That’s why, today, Vice President Harris is announcing two landmark final rules that fulfill the President’s commitment to safety in care, improving access to long-term care and the quality of caregiving jobs. Ensuring that all Americans, including older Americans and people with disabilities, have access to care – including home-based care – that is safe, reliable, and of high quality is an important part of the President’s agenda and a part of the President’s broader commitment to care. Today’s announcements deliver on the President’s promise in the State of the Union to crack down on nursing homes that endanger resident safety as well as his historic Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers, which included the most comprehensive set of executive actions any President has taken to improve care for millions of seniors and people with disabilities while supporting care workers and family caregivers.
Cracking Down on Inadequate Nursing Home Care
Medicare and Medicaid pay billions of dollars per year to ensure that 1.2 million Americans that receive care in nursing homes are cared for, yet too many nursing homes chronically understaff their facilities, leading to sub-standard or unsafe care. When facilities are understaffed, residents may go without basic necessities like baths, trips to the bathroom, and meals – and it is less safe when residents have a medical emergency. Understaffing can also have a disproportionate impact on women and people of color who make up a large proportion of the nursing home workforce because, without sufficient support, these dedicated workers can’t provide the care they know the residents deserve. In his 2022 State of the Union address, President Biden pledged that he would “protect seniors’ lives and life savings by cracking down on nursing homes that commit fraud, endanger patient safety, or prescribe drugs they don’t need.”
The Nursing Home Minimum Staffing Rule finalized today will require all nursing homes that receive federal funding through Medicare and Medicaid to have 3.48 hours per resident per day of total staffing, including a defined number from both registered nurses (0.55 hours per resident per day) and nurse aides (2.45 per resident per day). This means a facility with 100 residents would need at least two or three RNs and at least ten or eleven nurse aides as well as two additional nurse staff (which could be registered nurses, licensed professional nurses, or nurse aides) per shift to meet the minimum staffing standards. Many facilities would need to staff at a higher level based on their residents’ needs. It will also require facilities to have a registered nurse onsite 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide skilled nursing care, which will further improve nursing home safety. Adequate staffing is proven to be one of the measures most strongly associated with safety and good care outcomes.
To make sure nursing homes have the time they need to hire necessary staff, the requirements of this rule will be introduced in phases, with longer timeframes for rural communities. Limited, temporary exemptions will be available for both the 24/7 registered nurse requirement and the underlying staffing standards for nursing homes in workforce shortage areas that demonstrate a good faith effort to hire.
Strong transparency measures will ensure nursing home residents and their families are aware when a nursing home is using an exemption.
This rule will not only benefit residents and their families, it will also ensure that workers aren’t stretched too thin by having inadequate staff on site, which is currently a common reason for worker burnout and turnover. Workers who are on the frontlines interacting with residents and understanding their needs will also be given a voice in developing staffing plans for nursing homes. The Biden-Harris Administration also continues to invest in expanding the pipeline of nursing workers and other care workers, who are so essential to our economy, including through funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Improving Access to Home Care and the Quality of Home Care Jobs
Over seven million seniors and people with disabilities, alongside their families, rely on home and community-based services to provide for long-term care needs in their own homes and communities. This critical care is provided by a dedicated home care workforce, made up disproportionately by women of color, that often struggles to make ends meet due to low wages and few benefits. At the same time, home care is still very inaccessible for many Medicaid enrollees, with more than threequarters of home care providers not accepting new clients, leaving hundreds of thousands of older Americans and Americans with disabilities on waiting lists or struggling to afford the care they need.
The “Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services” final rule, finalized today, will help improve access to home care services as well as improve the quality caregiving jobs through its new provisions for home care. Specifically, the rule will ensure adequate compensation for home care workers by requiring that at least 80 percent of Medicaid payments for home care services go to workers’ wages. This policy would also allow states to take into account the unique experiences that small home care providers and providers in rural areas face while ensuring their employees receive their fair share of Medicaid payments and continued training as well as the delivery of quality care. Higher wages will likely reduce turnover, leading to higher quality of care for older adults and people with disabilities across the nation, as studies have shown. States will also be required to be more transparent in how much they pay for home care services and how they set those rates, increasing the accountability for home care providers. Finally, states will have to create a home care rate-setting advisory group made up of beneficiaries, home care workers and other key stakeholders to advise and consult on provider payment rates and direct compensation for direct care workers.
Strong Record on Improving Access to Care and Supporting Caregivers
Today’s new final rules are in addition to an already impressive track record on delivering on the President’s Executive Order on Care. Over the last year, the Biden-Harris Administration has:
Increased pay for care workers, including by proposing a rule to gradually increase pay for Head Start teachers by about $10,000, to reach parity with the salaries of public preschool teachers.
Cut child care costs for low-income families by finalizing a rule that will reduce or eliminate copayments for more than 100,000 working families, and lowering the cost of care for lower earning service members, thereby reducing the cost of child care for nearly two-thirds of children receiving care on military bases. Military families earning $45,000 would see a 34% decrease in the amount they pay for child care.
Supported family caregivers by making it easier for family caregivers to access Medicare beneficiary information and provide more support as they prepare for their loved ones to be discharged from the hospital. The Administration has also expanded access to mental health services for tens of thousands of family caregivers who are helping veterans
This fact sheet on the progress the Biden-Harris Administration has made on the President’s Care Agenda during this proclaimed Month of Action on Care and the comparison to the Republican agenda is from the White House:
During Care Workers Recognition Month, the Biden-Harris Administration is marking the progress we have made to make care more affordable for American families, support family caregivers, boost compensation and job quality for care workers, and expand care options. President Biden was joined by care workers and unions as he laid out how he is building on that progress with transformational investments in child care, home care, paid family and medical leave, tax cuts for workers and families, and other priorities, which are fully paid for by making the wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share in taxes. That is in sharp contrast with congressional Republicans, who would make devastating cuts to funding for care, healthcare, Social Security, and Medicare to pay for massive tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations.
The Need to Improve Care
Too many families and individuals struggle to access the affordable, high-quality care they need. The cost of child care is up 26% in the last decade and more than 200% over the past 30 years. For older adults and people with disabilities, long-term care costs are up 40% over the past decade. As a result, the cost of care is out of reach for many Americans. At the same time, care workers—who are disproportionately women of color—struggle to make ends meet, even as they care for others. Due to the low pay and the demanding nature of care work, turnover rates are high. In addition, at least 53 million Americans serve as family caregivers—including over 5 million caring for service members or veterans—and many face challenges due to the lack of support, training, and respite.
The President’s Plan to Lower Costs for Families for Care
The President has made child care, long-term care, family caregiving, and paid leave a core part of his domestic and economic agendas. He has referenced these issues in each of his State of the Union Addresses, and proposed transformative investments in each budget. The President’s most recent budget proposes the following:
Affordable, High-Quality Child Care and Universal Preschool
High-quality early childhood education improves the lives of both children and their parents. The President’s child care plan provides a lifeline to the parents of more than 16 million children by guaranteeing affordable, high-quality child care from birth until kindergarten for low- and middle-income working families. Right now, the average price of child care is nearly $11,000 a year, with low-income families paying as much as a third of their income for child care. Under the President’s plan, most families would pay $10 per day, saving the average family over $600 per child, per month. The budget also invests in free, voluntary, universal preschool for all of the nation’s 4-year-olds and charts a path to expand preschool to 3-year-olds. Together, these investments will make early care and education programs affordable and available where families live and work in communities across the country, increase wages for early childhood education workers, and strengthen the economy.
Child Tax Credit
The President’s Budget would restore the expanded Child Tax Credit, lifting 3 million children out of poverty and cutting taxes by an average of $2,600 for 39 million low- and middle-income families that include 66 million children. This includes 18 million children in low-income families who would be newly eligible for the full credit, and 2 million children living with a caregiver who is at least 60 years old. It would also provide breathing room for day-to-day expenses by allowing families to receive their tax credit through monthly payments.
Long-term Care and Family Caregiving
The President is committed to protecting older adults’ and people with disabilities’ health and dignity. His plan would invest in expanding Medicaid home and community-based services to help a larger number of older adults and people with disabilities receive care in their home or community, and promote better opportunities for home care workers and family caregivers. There has been substantial growth amongst the younger population under 65 with disabilities living in nursing homes. The percentage of individuals younger than 65 living in residential nursing facilities grew from 10.6 in 2000 to 16.2 in 2017. The President’s investments will help ensure that they can receive care in their own homes and communities. The President has also proposed substantial investments for family caregivers serving our nation’s heroes, including stipends and support services for family caregivers of eligible veterans.
A National Paid Family and Medical Leave Program
Many workers with caregiving responsibilities are forced to leave the workforce intermittently or permanently to take care of their loved ones. As of March 2022, only 24% of private sector workers in the United States had access to paid family leave through their employer and only 43% had access to short-term disability insurance through their employer. The President proposes a national, comprehensive paid family and medical leave program, administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to ensure that all workers can take time off to care for and bond with a new child; care for a seriously ill loved one; heal from their own serious illness; address circumstances arising from a loved one’s military deployment; or find safety from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or grieve the death of a loved one. The vast majority of America’s workers do not have access to employer-provided paid family leave, including 73 percent of private sector workers. Among the lowest-paid workers, who are disproportionately women and workers of color, 94 percent lack access to paid family leave through their employers. Some people’s caregiving responsibilities are so demanding that under the current system they have to give up paid work entirely or retire early to take care of their loved ones.
The Biden-Harris Administration’s Historic Actions on Care
Since day one of the Administration, President Biden and Vice President Harris have been committed to improving the quality of and access to care while supporting care workers and family caregivers. The President’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) provided an historic $39 billion in child care relief funds to provide relief for child care providers and support for families to afford care. The ARP delivered $37 billion across all 50 states for activities and investments that enhance, expand, and strengthen home and community-based services and $145 million to help the National Family Caregiver Support Program deliver counseling, training, and short-term relief to family and other informal care providers. Moreover, over the past three years, the President has secured close to a 50% increase in federal child care assistance and a $1.5 billion increase in funding for Head Start. And in April 2023, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers (Care EO) surrounded by people with disabilities, family caregivers, long-term care workers, early educators, veterans, and aging advocates. The EO was celebrated by leaders from across the country. Over the past year, agencies have made substantial progress implementing the Care EO. For example:
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Children & Families (ACF), finalized a rule that will reduce the cost of child care for more than 100,000 low-income working families and make sure that more than 140,000 child care providers are paid more fairly and on-time. It also proposed a rule that would boost Head Start teacher wages by $10,000, on average.
For child care providers serving families benefiting from federal child care assistance, HHS, through ACF, adopted a pay floor that will increase child care payments for nearly 47,000 center- and home-based child care providers.
HHS, through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, proposed rules to ensure that home care workers get a bigger share of Medicaid payments; and establish minimum staffing standards in nursing homes receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding.
The Department of Defense reduced the amounts that lower-earning Service members pay out of pocket for child care, lowering child care costs for the families of more than 32,000 children aged 0-12 enrolled in installation Child Development Programs. Military Families earning $45,000 would see a 34% decrease in the amount they pay for child care. This also builds on the President’s Executive Order to advance the economic security of military spouses, veterans, caregivers and survivors.
The Department of Veterans Affairs launched a pilot program, known as the Virtual Psychotherapy Program for Caregivers, to provide mental health counseling services to family caregivers caring for our nation’s heroes. The program successfully completed its pilot phase and is now a permanent program. Since October 2023, the program has provided over 4,937 psychotherapy sessions to family caregivers.
In addition to these actions, federal agencies have taken dozens of others over the past year to improve family caregiving, long-term care, and child care. A full list can be found here.
Republican Officials Want to Provide Massive Taxes to the Rich while Making Devastating Cuts to Programs Working Families Count On
President Biden is building our economy from the middle out and bottom up—an economy where we invest in all Americans to make sure the middle class has a fair shot and no one gets left behind.
House Republicans have a very different economic vision. Under the RSC budget, care would be on the cutting block. Their budget proposal translates to 264,600 fewer child care slots and 253,500 fewer high-quality Head Start slots. These investments are critical to giving children a strong start and making sure that families have the help they need to thrive.
Along with damaging cuts to care funding, House Republicans would slash Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and other supports that working families count on. House Republicans would make these devastating cuts to pay for another $5.5 trillion in tax cuts skewed to the wealthy and big corporations. Their budget would deliver windfall tax cuts to billionaires and their heirs, eliminate the minimum tax on billion-dollar corporations President Biden signed into law, make it easier for the wealthy and corporations to cheat on their taxes, and preserve policies that encourage corporations to move jobs and profits offshore—all while making it more difficult for families to afford child care and education.
The White House provided this fact sheet detailing actions President Biden has taken, and new actions he is taking to lower prescription drug and health care costs, expand access to health care and protect consumers, even as Republicans voted against giving Medicare the ability to negotiate drug prices and their presumed presidential nominee, Trump, is renewing calls to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), which now has enabled a record 21 million to obtain health insurance, 9 million more than when Biden took office, and as he moves to negotiate for a $2000 cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for all, not just Medicare recipients and expand the number of drug prices being negotiated from 10 to as many as 50 a year. –Karen Rubin, editor@news-photos-features.com
President Biden believes that health care is a right, not a privilege, and since day one, he has delivered health care to millions more Americans while also lowering health care costs. The President continues to build on, strengthen, and protect Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, signing laws such as the American Rescue Plan Act and the Inflation Reduction Act to lower prescription drug costs and health insurance premiums. Thanks to the President’s efforts, more Americans have health insurance than under any other President, and are better protected against surprise medical bills and junk fees. Seniors are already seeing lower prescription drug prices with insulin capped at $35, free vaccines, and out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs capped at $2,000 starting in 2025. And the Administration is well on its way to lower the cost of range of drugs as Medicare negotiates over the prices of prescription drugs for the first time ever. The Biden-Harris Administration has also taken steps to make sure consumers aren’t scammed by junk insurance and have better access to mental health care.
However, the President is not just resting on these accomplishments. He’s fighting to deliver even lower costs and better health care to Americans. That’s why the Biden-Harris Administration is acting to lower prescription drug costs, keep health insurance premiums low, expand access to health care, especially mental health care coverage, and continue to protect Americans from getting ripped off.
Taking on Big Pharma to Deliver Lower Prescription Drug Costs for Seniors and Families
After decades of opposition, President Biden enacted a law that finally takes on Big Pharma and gives Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices. President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act will save millions of seniors money on some of the costliest prescription drugs on the market. Meanwhile, Big Pharma also executed over $135 billion in mergers and acquisitions in 2023 alone, while passing the cost to consumers. And eight of the 10 drugs selected for this year’s negotiation program raised their prices in 2024 – after all 10 drugs were already priced three to eight times higher in the United States than in other countries. President Biden knows how the Inflation Reduction Act is delivering for American families, and his Administration will continue the fight to lower health care costs for more Americans.
Announcing that Manufacturers of 10 Drugs Remain at the Negotiating Table. Last month, for the first time in history, Medicare has made offers on the fair price for 10 of the most widely used and expensive drugs. Medicare is no longer taking whatever price for these drugs that the pharmaceutical companies demand. This week CMS announced that manufacturers for all 10 selected drugs are participating in drug price negotiation, with all manufacturers having submitted counteroffers and negotiations continuing. Later this year, new, negotiated prices for the first 10 prescription drugs selected for the negotiation program will be announced.
Let Medicare Negotiate Drug Prices for at least 50 Drugs Every Year. Medicare should not be limited to negotiating just 20 drugs per year. Instead, the President is proposing that Medicare be able to negotiate prices for the major drugs that seniors rely on, like those used for treating heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. The Budget cuts federal spending by $200 billion increasing the number of drugs Medicare can select for negotiation and bringing more drugs into the negotiation process sooner, and other reforms.
Expand Cap on Out-of-Pocket Prescription Drug Costs. When the $2,000 out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs applies in Medicare in 2025, nearly 19 million seniors and other beneficiaries are projected to save $400 per year on prescription drugs. The President is calling on Congress to expand the $2,000 out-of-pocket cap to all private insurance so that all Americans have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that they won’t have to choose between filling their prescription or putting food on the table.
Capping Medicare Cost-Sharing at $2 for Common Generic Drugs. Medicare will be launching a new model to limit Medicare Part D cost-sharing for certain generic drugs to $2. As Medicare prepares to launch the model, today HHS published a list of dozens of generic drugs for the model, including drugs like statins to treat high cholesterol, beta-blockers for high blood pressure, and platelet inhibitors to prevent blood clots. In his budget, the President is calling on Congress to limit Medicare cost-sharing to $2 for high-value generic drugs for all Medicare plans.
Access to Cell & Gene Therapies. In January, HHS announced that sickle cell disease will be the first focus of the Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) Access Model. Under this model, CMS will negotiate with manufacturers on behalf of state Medicaid programs to increase affordable access to potentially lifesaving and life-changing treatment, and lower health care costs for some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations. Today, CMS is releasing the Request for Applications for drug manufacturers of cell and gene therapies to participate in the model.
Expand the IRA’s Requirement that Drug Companies Pay Rebates When They Increase Prices Faster than Inflation. Thanks to the IRA, drug manufacturers must now pay rebates to Medicare if their price increases for certain drugs exceed inflation. The President is calling on Congress to require those rebates for commercial drug sales, as well as sales to Medicare. That will save the federal government billions of dollars, further curb prescription drug price inflation, and reduce health insurance premiums for people with private health insurance coverage.
Putting High-Quality Health Care Within Reach
Today, more Americans have health insurance than under any President. The President’s efforts to lower health insurance premiums have led to record-breaking enrollment in the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplaces, with over 21 million people signing up for coverage – 9 million more than when the President took office. The Biden-Harris Administration isn’t stopping there and is building on this incredible success by:
Keeping Health Insurance Premiums Low. Thanks to the President’s American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act, millions of Americans are saving on average $800 a year on premiums. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to keeping health insurance premiums low, giving families more breathing room and the peace of mind that health insurance brings. To do that, the President is calling on Congress to make the expanded premium tax credits that the Inflation Reduction Act extended permanent. Without Congressional action, millions of Americans will see their health insurance premiums spike by hundreds or thousands of dollars starting in the fall of 2025.
Closing the Medicaid Coverage Gap. The President continues to call on Congress to provide Medicaid-like coverage to people in the 10 states that have not adopted Medicaid expansion as well as keeping Medicaid expansion enrollees covered.
Keeping Kids Covered. Investing in our nation’s children is a top priority for the President. Research shows that when children have health insurance, they thrive: they’re healthier, they do better in school, and are more likely to succeed in adulthood. Keeping children covered is the right thing to do, which is why the President wants to make sure that children can never lose coverage due to red tape from birth until they turn age 6, and that families only have to submit Medicaid paperwork once every three years.
Closing Research Gaps in Women’s Health Research.In November 2023, the President and the First Lady launched the first-ever White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research to fundamentally change how our nation approaches and funds women’s health research. Women make up more than half the population but have been understudied and underrepresented in health research for far too long. As part of the initiative, the President during the State of the Union will call on Congress to make bold, transformational investments in women’s health research.
Making Home Care More Available. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, President Biden delivered $37 billion to all states to expand access to home care and improve the quality of caregiving jobs. The Biden-Harris Administration is taking steps to improve the quality of Medicaid home care services and to make sure home care workers get a bigger share of Medicaid payments for these critical services. The President remains committed to further improving and expanding Medicaid home care services, and is calling on Congress to do their part to allow the hundreds of thousands of older adults and individuals with disabilities on Medicaid home care waiting list to remain in their homes and stay active in their communities while continuing to improve the quality of jobs for caregivers.
Ensuring Access to Mental Health Care. Ensuring robust access to mental health care has been a bipartisan priority for almost 15 years, including the enactment of mental health parity requirements which require health plans to cover mental health care benefits at the same levels as physical health care benefits. Yet today, too many Americans still struggle to find and afford the care they need. The President is committed to tackling the mental health crisis in this country, which means making health plans do their part and providing agencies with the needed support to make sure they’re doing so. The Biden-Harris Administration is working to finalize the mental health parity rule, which would close existing loopholes as well as ensure health plans evaluate access to mental health care in their networks, and make changes if it’s found to be inadequate. In addition, the President is calling on Congress to further increase access to mental health care by expanding coverage in Medicare and private insurance, applying the mental health parity requirements to Medicare beneficiaries, and extending Medicare incentive programs to address mental health provider shortages.
Cracking Down on Junk Insurance, Surprise Bills and Fees, and Confusing Health Care Pricing
Nothing infuriates the President more than seeing Americans get ripped off. That’s why the Biden-Harris Administration has prioritized implementing surprise billing protections, preventing 1 million Americans from receiving surprise medical bills every single month. The President has also taken steps to prevent Americans from being ripped off by junk insurance that preys on vulnerable citizens by closing loopholes to ensure consumers know what they’re buying and can get the health coverage that best meets their needs. But more can be done to protect consumers, which is why the President intends to:
Prevent More Surprise Medical Bills. Today, Americans are protected from receiving medical bills for most emergency care and air ambulance services as well as when consumers didn’t know they were getting care from an out-of-network provider despite doing their homework and going to an in-network facility for treatment. The President wants to further protect consumers by applying surprise billing protections to ground ambulance providers. The last thing people should worry about during an emergency is an unexpected bill for their ambulance ride.
Crack Down on Junk Insurance. Last year, the Biden-Harris Administration proposed a monumental rule to help millions of Americans access high-quality, affordable health insurance and protect consumers from being discriminated against because of pre-existing conditions. Making sure Americans aren’t scammed into low-quality coverage, and charged more or denied life-saving care is a key priority for the Administration, which is why we are working to finalize proposed rules that limit the availability of junk insurance.
Honoring America’s Commitment to Seniors
The President has always believed that Medicare and Social Security are a promise—a rock-solid guarantee generations of Americans have counted on to be able to retire with dignity and security. The President will reject any efforts to cut the Medicare or Social Security benefits that seniors and people with disabilities have earned and paid into their entire working lives. The Budget honors that ironclad commitment—not only by rejecting benefit cuts, but by embracing reforms and investments that will protect and strengthen both programs. The President is committed to working with Congress to ensure Medicare and Social Security remain strong for their beneficiaries, now and in the future.
Securing Medicare. In his budget, the President is calling on Congress to ensure that high-income individuals contribute their fair share to Medicare and directs revenue from the Net Investment Income Tax into the HI trust fund as was originally intended. In addition, the President has proposed to direct savings from further lowering drug costs into the Medicare trust fund. If Congress were to heed the President’s call and enact these reforms, it would substantially extend solvency for the Medicare HI Trust Fund, guaranteeing seniors the benefits they have been promised.
Protects Seniors’ Health and Dignity. As President Biden pledged to do two years ago in the State of the Union, the Biden-Harris Administration is “set[ting] higher standards for nursing homes and make sure your loved ones get the care they deserve and that they expect.” The nursing home industry receives billions of dollars of taxpayer funding each year, but for too long, many facilities have not had the staff required to give residents safe, high-quality care. That is changing. HHS has proposed a new rule establishing a federal floor for nursing home staffing, so that owners cannot cut staffing to unsafe levels simply to turn a profit. This includes a proposal for every facility to have a Registered Nurse on site 24/7, in addition to minimum number of registered nurses and nurse aides to assist with care. Earlier this year, HHS also finalized a rule to increase transparency in nursing home ownership, making it easier for residents and their loved ones to hold facilities accountable. The final rule was just submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review
Strong Record on Expanding and Strengthening Health Care Nationwide
The President’s new actions are all in addition to an already impressive track record on fighting for the health care of Americans across the nation. Over the last three years, the President has:
Expanded health insurance through the ACA Marketplaces to an additional nine million Americans and helped over one million people in Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Dakota gain Medicaid coverage.
Extended postpartum Medicaid coverage to nearly 700,000 women across 44 states and the District of Columbia.
Kept children covered continuously in Medicaid and CHIP for a full year.
Made it easier for people to enroll in the ACA Marketplaces and Medicaid, including for older adults that are covered by both Medicaid and Medicare.
Made critical vaccines free for all Medicare beneficiaries as well as adults enrolled in Medicaid, with seniors on Medicare saving on average $70 in out-of-pockets for vaccines.
Lowered maximum out of pocket costs for Americans with employer and ACA coverage by an average of $400.
Capped out-of-pocket costs at $35 for a month’s supply of insulin for seniors and people with disabilities on Medicare.
Lowered coinsurance for seniors that took the 47 drugs covered by Medicare Part B that hiked prices faster than inflation in 2023, with some enrollees saving as much as $618 per dose.
