Medicaid Cuts Could Endanger Health Access in Rural NY

We often hear claims that the GOP Medicaid cuts will not impact hardworking average Americans. However, this simply isn’t true. During a recent visit, Senator Gillibrand warned about the proposed Medicaid cuts threatening a hospital in Saranac Lake, a small community in New York State. These cuts could result in 1.5 million New Yorkers losing their health insurance coverage by 2034.

New York’s 21st Congressional District, one of the largest in the Eastern United States, is under the dubious leadership of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a staunch MAGA Trump supporter who shockingly voted for a bill that’s set to ruin her own district. As if that weren’t enough, she’s now eyeing the Governor’s mansion in New York. This ambiguous ambition has healthcare professionals shaking their heads in disbelief, loudly warning that the proposed federal budget cuts will decimate Medicaid coverage for countless New Yorkers.

The federal budget bill threatens healthcare access across the state, especially in rural areas like the North Country, which Stefanik represents. These cuts could force many small hospitals and health centers to shut down. Reports show that 1.5 million New Yorkers could lose health insurance by 2034, while the local economies and healthcare systems would suffer ripple effects. Specifically, the 21st Congressional District could see as many as 2,600 jobs eliminated.

Clearly, the GOP is relentlessly crafting a smokescreen of misinformation to conceal their true agenda: prioritizing tax breaks for billionaires and millionaires while neglecting the urgent needs of average rural Americans.