The government's removal of Medicaid funding has led to five Planned Parenthood clinics in California closing due to unsustainable financial strains, impacting low-income women's healthcare access.
Governor Kathy Hochul stated that major federal funding cuts from President Trump's new bill are set to inflict severe harm on New Yorkers, especially the vulnerable. She emphasized that this bill aims to subsidize tax breaks for the wealthy at the expense of crucial aid programs.
An analysis by the Greater New York Hospital Association estimates that Trump's megabill will risk $14.4 billion in hospital-generated economic activity and over 63,000 healthcare or healthcare-related jobs. The cuts will exacerbate the stress on the already fragile healthcare system, leading to a reduction in critically needed services, downsizing of operations, or even hospital closures.
Mitch McConnell told Senate Republicans that Americans concerned about losing Medicaid will 'get over it.' No one will 'get over' losing a loved one because Republicans in Congress failed them.
"These poor people need their Medicaid. I don't get it," said Diane Donaghy, president of the New York State Nurses Association at RUMC. "Staten Island cannot afford to not have two hospitals... We need those funds, so I don't know why they're [the government] playing games."
During these challenging times, it is important that we continue to make budget decisions on our own terms as a community, while holding firm to the values that define us.