Governor Kathy Hochul once again calling attention to New York’s healthcare crisis on Tuesday. This as she spoke to members of the Public Employees Federation at Empire State Plaza.
“No one wants to think I’m gonna go in a hospital with a loved one who’s very sick and say, well, sorry, we just don’t have enough nurses. Can you come back tomorrow?” said Governor Hochul.
CBS 6 has been closely following what many healthcare leaders say is a trickledown effect with a direct correlation to long term care. Even with Governor Hochul’s pledge to make fixing healthcare staffing shortages a priority, her 5% proposed hike in Medicaid reimbursements is coming under fire by those who live the reality every day.
“Really, we need to look at other sources of funding to address the Medicaid shortfall including the rainy day fund that the state has. It has been raining on nursing homes for quite some time,” said Stephen B. Hanse, President and CEO of the NYS Health Facilities Association.
CBS 6 reached out to the governor’s office on Monday after hearing suggestions on where additional Medicaid funding could come from. We informed them that in addition to the proposal from NYSHFA, Senator Dan Stec (R) suggested the stet use some of the billion dollars designated for undocumented immigrants in New York City in the 2024 budget and redirect it to Medicaid.
Hochul’s office did not respond to our first request for comment, but after a second request sent the following statement:
"Governor Hochul's Medicaid budget represents the largest in state history and has the most state funding ever included in such a spending plan. If approved, the 5 percent increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates for hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living providers will be the largest increase in two decades and will help drive a transformational change to stabilize our healthcare system."
The statement did not address any of the specifics mentioned in the request CBS 6 sent. Instead, the Hochul press team expanded on the statement, noting additional funding and ways the state is working to improve care for aging New Yorkers.
Advocates remain hopeful continued calls for more Medicaid help will result in additional Medicaid funding before the 2024 budget is finalized.
“This is not a crisis we can put our heads in the sand and hope it will go away. It won’t. The state has been doing that for 15 years. It hasn’t worked,” said Hanse.