(ALBANY, NEW YORK) – 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Workers East President George Gresham released the following statement after New York State Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2024 budget presentation - Governor Hochul Announces Highlights of FY 2024 Executive Budget | Governor Kathy Hochul (ny.gov):

“New York State is facing an unprecedented health care crisis in the wake of the pandemic. 

There are not enough Health Care Workers inside hospitals and nursing homes to meet the needs of patients and residents. 

More are being driven away each day by stagnating wages and a lack of support for Front Line Caregivers, who feel unable to deliver the quality care they know their patients and residents deserve. 

A growing chasm between the cost of caring for the most vulnerable among us and the actual funding made available to do so is jeopardizing New Yorkers’ access to quality health care.

Unfortunately, Governor Hochul’s budget proposal fails to recognize the scope of this crisis and the necessary role of New York State and the Medicaid program to resolve it. 

The cost of inaction will be far greater than the investments missing from this proposal. 

The Governor and the Legislature must raise Medicaid rates to provide new revenue, not just offset other cuts. 

Without that, safety net institutions will not have the resources to weather the current storm and allow our health care system to rebuild from three years of a devastating pandemic. 

Leaders in Albany must also halt damaging proposals - including the elimination of vital sources of funding like the 340(b) Program - that will make the crisis worse.

1199 SEIU Health Care Workers from across New York will do whatever it takes to make sure the urgent needs of their patients and residents are met in this budget process. 

Medicaid is a lifeline for millions of New Yorkers, and it is essential that our State make the necessary investments to protect the care that our communities rely on.”

1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East - whose mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all, is the largest and fastest-growing Health Care Union in New York and nationwide, represents more than 450,000 Members across the States of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland and Florida, and in Washington, D.C.