(Albany, N.Y.) – The Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS) today stood alongside health center leaders, patients, providers, advocates, and legislative champions to demand a $300 million investment in the state budget. CHCANYS is the statewide association that represents New York State’s 70-plus Community Health Center (CHC) organizations, which serve patients at more than 850 sites statewide. Today’s event was part of a series of regional advocacy actions taking place across New York State as decisions are being made leading up to the April 1 state budget deadline. Advocates have a clear message for Albany: Invest in Community Health Centers!
Community Health Centers across New York State are facing a growing financial crisis. Federal policy changes threaten health insurance coverage for up to 1.5 million New Yorkers, many of whom are expected to turn to CHCs for care. Without Medicaid coverage, CHCs will not be reimbursed for treating these patients — resulting in an estimated $300 million revenue shortfall statewide. Following changes in the governor’s 30-day amendments, the current budget proposal allocates up to $60 million for CHCs. While we are grateful for any investment, that amount fails to cover the predicted $300 million shortfall CHCs are facing. Health Centers across the state are urging state leaders to align their investment with the scale of the crisis facing New York’s health care safety net. This year, we are advocating for the following:
- Invest $300M in CHCs to strengthen the state’s health care safety net, keep doors open, and protect jobs. This is an opportunity for New York State to showcase its commitment to community health and health care access for every New Yorker while demonstrating fiscal responsibility.
- Protect the 340B prescription drug program (A.6222 Paulin/S.1913 Rivera), which is a federal drug discount program that allows CHCs to reinvest millions of dollars into their communities at zero cost to taxpayers or the government.
- Protect patients’ access to telehealth (A.1691 Paulin/S.3359 Rivera) by ensuring CHCs receive full payment for telehealth services even when the patient and provider are at home.
- Allow medical assistants to vaccinate, freeing up other caregivers to work at the top of their license while allowing community health centers to keep their communities healthy.
CHCs provide primary and preventive care including medical, dental, behavioral health, vision, and substance use disorder services to more than 2.5 million people each year; that’s 1 in 8 New Yorkers. CHCs are located in communities that might not otherwise have a primary doctor’s office, or access to one, and serve everyone who walks through their door, even if they don’t have insurance or the ability to pay, keeping patients out of emergency rooms and preventing costly and unnecessary hospitalizations.
"I want to thank CHCANYS for always championing community health centers. CHCs are on the front line of improving health disparities, especially in medically under and unserved communities across our State. With federal Medicaid cuts and changes in Medicaid eligibility financially threatening them, our State must take every step to help them keep their doors open,” said Senator Gustavo Rivera. “This includes a reasonable investment in this year's budget as well as passing two of my bills to support them, S.3359 and my '340B prescription drug anti-discrimination act.' I want to thank CHCANYS for their partnership to provide essential health services to New Yorkers in need."
“Community Health Centers are the backbone of New York’s health care safety net, and I’m proud to stand with CHCANYS to support them,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. “As federal policy changes threaten coverage for many New Yorkers, now more than ever we need to ensure that our health centers have the resources they need to keep their doors open and continue serving every patient who walks through them.”
“Community Health Centers need help! We are counting on Albany to help right the wrongs of two and a half decades of underinvestment in CHCs by investing $300 million in this year’s budget,” said Rose Duhan, CHCANYS President and CEO. “We are here today sounding the alarm: Without a major investment, the safety net will collapse, and communities across New York State that rely on CHCs for primary and preventive care will have nowhere to turn.
“Community health centers are not just health care providers. We are major employers and economic anchors in our communities,” said Judith Watson, CHCANYS board chair and CEO of Westchester Community Health Center. “When Albany invests in health centers, they are protecting jobs, strengthening local economies, and ensuring families can get care close to home. The return on investment is immediate and measurable in healthier patients, stronger communities, and stable local economies.”
The state’s community health centers have been joining forces as the budget is negotiated, holding events across the state during state budget negotiations to share their message in a unified voice, anchored by today’s press conference at the State Capitol in Albany on CHCANYS’ annual advocacy. Regional events, have already been held across Buffalo, Westchester, and Long Island, with additional events planned in the coming weeks.
CHCs are economic engines, but have been dramatically underfunded for decades. Medicaid is their single largest source of income, representing 42% of total CHC revenue. Yet New York’s outdated Medicaid reimbursement system, unique to CHCs, pays rates based on costs from a quarter of a century ago, putting CHCs at a disadvantage as they deal with rising costs, workforce shortages, and growing demand.
CHCANYS’ Legislative Agenda briefing book provides additional information about CHCs, who they serve, how they contribute to their communities, and what support they need to survive and thrive. Our State and NYC fact sheets provide a breakdown of the types of care CHCs provide and how they are funded.