(Albany, NY) – The Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS) issued this letter to Governor Kathy Hochul, urging immediate action to address 25 years of underinvestment in New York’s Community Health Centers (CHCs). The letter calls on Governor Hochul to prioritize Community Health Centers in the budget by raising health center Medicaid rates and fixing inequities in the State’s telehealth policy.

New York’s 900 Community Health Center locations statewide provide high quality, comprehensive care to anyone who walks through their door – regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay. CHCs currently serve 1 in every 8 New Yorkers – more than 2.4 million patients – and demand for CHC services is rising.

"Unlike hospitals and other healthcare providers, Community Health Centers have gone more than TWO DECADES without a substantive Medicaid rate increase,” said CHCANYS President and CEO Rose Duhan. “The need for quality, affordable care continues to increase and the only way to ensure community health centers will be there to meet that need is to raise the rates!”

Community Health Centers are located in underserved communities from Long Island to Buffalo to Plattsburgh and everywhere in between. In addition to primary care, they provide access to dental care and services, mental health support, and prenatal and pediatric care, plus connections to non-medical/social services like WIC and SNAP, transportation, and housing.

A study by the Urban Institute found that, on average, CHC costs exceed New York’s Medicaid rates by 44%. In the current economy, without a rate increase, CHCs are faced with tough choices like cutting hours, reducing staff, or closing their doors altogether. Patients across New York State count on CHCs for care. They want to know they can count on Governor Hochul to include Medicaid Rate Reform in this year’s budget.