For Immediate Release: May 3, 2023
Contact: Kristi Barnes | press@nysna.org | 646-853-4489
New York State Nurses Association Statement on New York State Budget Deal
New York Budget Does Not Adequately Address Continued Healthcare Emergency
Nurses Call for More Policies to Advance Health Equity by Fairly Funding Safety-Net Hospitals, Expanding Access to Care for All, and Supporting the Nursing Workforce
New York — As New York passes its third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, more must be done to improve the ongoing healthcare conditions facing nurses and patients. While NYSNA successfully advocated against harmful policy proposals like the interstate nursing licensure compact and protected nursing scope of practice, the new budget does little to address the root causes of the healthcare staffing emergency and the inequities in our healthcare system. While the Governor continues to extend an executive order declaring a healthcare staffing emergency, there are no specific provisions to improve nursing tuition support and loan forgiveness, increase nursing school teaching capacity, improve recruitment and retention, or support improved working conditions that will keep nurses and other healthcare workers from leaving the bedside. NYSNA acknowledges the Medicaid expansion and increased hospital and nursing home reimbursements, but this additional funding is not nearly enough for struggling safety-net hospitals to thrive. Our members look forward to working with legislators to continue advocating for policies that advance health equity by fairly funding safety-net hospitals, expanding access to care for all, and supporting the nursing workforce.
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The New York State Nurses Association represents more than 42,000 members in New York State. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. NYSNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United, AFL-CIO, the country's largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses, with more than 225,000 members nationwide.
For more information, visit nysna.org.
