New York State Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means
Joint Legislative Hearing: Health
State Fiscal Year 2026-27 Executive Budget: Health and Medicaid
February 10, 2026
The Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS) appreciates the opportunity to provide testimony to the Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means Committees on the Governor’s State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2026-27 Executive Budget.
Background
CHCANYS is the primary care association representing New York’s 70+ federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), also known as community health centers (CHCs). CHCs are the backbone of New York’s health care safety net. Our member health centers serve more than 2.5 million New Yorkers—one in eight residents—at nearly 900 sites statewide. We deliver comprehensive, high-quality primary and preventive care, behavioral health services, dental care, and essential social supports, regardless of patients’ insurance status or ability to pay.
CHCs serve New Yorkers with the greatest health and economic needs and the most significant barriers to accessing care. Our consumer demographics highlight CHCs’ indispensable role as the anchor of the primary care safety net:
-70% percent of CHC patients live at or below the federal poverty level.
-More than 117,000 of our members’ patients experience homelessness.
-Nearly 60% of CHC patients are enrolled in Medicaid, CHIP, or dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid –one in five Medicaid beneficiaries statewide.
-12.6% of patients are uninsured, making CHCs the source of care for one-third of uninsured New Yorkers.
-Two out of every three rural communities in New York rely on CHCs for essential care. In many of those communities, but for CHCs, there would be no access to primary care.
CHCANYS SFY 2025-26 Budget Priorities
For the reasons detailed in this testimony, CHCANYS urges the Legislature to take decisive action on the following priorities to safeguard New York’s health care safety net:
I. Invest $300M in Community Health Centers ($150M State Share)
II. Protect 340B Savings from Erosion by Big Pharma (No cost to the State)
III. Ensure Full Telehealth Reimbursement for CHCs ($4.3M State Share)
IV. Strengthen New York’s Healthcare Workforce
V. Maintain Healthcare Coverage for New Yorkers
VI. Protect and Expand Investments in Key Health Initiatives