To the New York State Congressional Delegation:

As you know, our coalion of New York State consumers, health care and human service workers, providers and insurers has been paying close attention to the debate over healthcare and healthcare funding in Congress.

We are parcularly concerned about programs that affect millions of low- and moderate- income families and the providers that serve them. As the months have passed since the October 1st, these New Yorkers have grown increasingly worried about the future.

While we were pleased that Congress acted last week to fully fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program for six years, we were very disappointed that no action was taken on other important health care measures aimed at insuring New Yorkers’ access to coverage and care, including:

• Postponing the Medicaid Disproporonate Share Hospital cuts which will take $330 million from our state’s rural and urban safety net hospitals this year, rising to nearly $1 billion annually by 2022

• Extending the Health Centers Fund which provided $166 million last yearto Federally-Qualified Health Centers in New York State.

• Funding the cost-sharing reducon payments that contribute $870 million towards the cost of insuring 700,000 moderate-income New Yorkers.

• Extending the Medicare Dependent Hospital program and Low Volume payment adjustment which provides critical support for rural and small community hospitals.

We strongly urge you to address these issues in any continuing resolution passed by the new February 8th deadline, rather than postponing them to a full 2017-8 budget bill to be considered in March.

Many of you have expressed strong support for these programs, which help ensure that New Yorkers from every income level have access to high-quality healthcare in all parts of the state. The delay in funding is causing increasing stress and uncertainty for consumers and providers alike, and we ask you to do everything you can to address these issues by February 8th.

Sincerely,

Greater New York Hospital Association
Healthcare Association of New York State
Coalition of New York State Public Health Plans Community Healthcare Association of New York State Medical Society of the State of New York

Leading Age
Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State Continuing Care Leadership Coalition
Health Care for All New York
Children’s Health Fund
Community Service Society
New York State StateWide Senior Action Council Citizen Action
New York State AFLCIO
1199 SEIU
Doctor’s Council SEIU
New York State Nurses Association
New York State United Teachers
United University Professions