MASSENA HOSPITAL UNDER ATTACK: With Republican Cuts Threatening Rural Hospitals and Clinics Across the State, New Yorkers Sound the Alarm in Massena
New York Republicans Elise Stefanik and Mike Lawler Voted to Cut Hundreds of Billions of Dollars from Medicaid, Jeopardizing New York’s Rural Hospitals and Clinics
MASSENA, NEW YORK — Yesterday, Empire State Voices and Citizen Action of New York held a rally and press conference outside Massena Hospital to draw attention to the threat posed by recent Republican cuts to Medicaid and state healthcare programs to rural hospitals and clinics across New York, including Massena. The organizations were joined by local residents, healthcare advocates, and medical professionals from across the state, who called on New York Republicans, including Representative Elise Stefanik and Mike Lawler, to take action to reverse these cuts.
In July, Congress passed the Republican Tax Law, which included over $1 trillion in funding cuts to Medicaid, state health programs, and other federal healthcare spending. These cuts are expected to force around 860,000 New Yorkers off their health insurance, which could lead to rural hospitals and clinics across the state reducing services or even closing their doors entirely. Instead of reversing cuts to Medicaid and lowering healthcare costs, New York Republicans, including Rep. Stefanik and Rep. Mike Lawler, voted last week to continue on a path toward a shutdown.
Republican cuts are expected to force around 860,000 New Yorkers off their health insurance, potentially leading to the closure of rural hospitals and clinics across the state. | CREDIT: Empire State Voices
“During my career, I have worked through two great crises in healthcare: The arrival of HIV during the 80s, and the COVID pandemic,” said Dr. Christopher Hyson, MD, a retired Family Practitioner with over 30 years of experience at Adirondack Health. “I now see a third crisis on our threshold, one which will be caused by the slashing of the Medicaid budget and what that will do to our hospitals, clinics, and millions of patients nationwide. Unlike HIV and COVID, this crisis will be uniquely American and, most disturbing, it will be entirely preventable."
“For 25 years, I sat across from people fighting for their lives, and I knew that access to care was the difference between despair and hope,” said Deb Scarborough, a cancer survivor and former Counselor at the AIDS Council of Northeastern NY and Conifer Park Rehab. “When cancer and surgeries knocked me down, Medicaid was there to lift me back up—without it, I wouldn’t be standing here today. We all deserve that same chance at health and dignity, and that’s why I will never stop speaking out for Medicaid.”
“We all deserve that same chance at health and dignity, and that’s why I will never stop speaking out for Medicaid.” -Deb Scarborough | CREDIT: Empire State Voices
“Congressmember Stefanik pretends to stand with working people, but she’s really doing the bidding of billionaires,” said Ravo Root, Lead Organizer for Citizen Action of New York. “The Republican Tax Law, which is Representative Stefanik's bundle for billionaires, will gut healthcare, shut down rural hospitals like Massena Memorial, and leave children hungry. These devastating cuts will cost lives.”
“The Republican Tax Law was an organized attack on working New Yorkers and their families' healthcare, plain and simple,” said Zachary Tirgan, Multi-Regional Organizer for Empire State Voices. “New York Republicans like Reps. Elise Stefanik and Mike Lawler chose to hurt their own constituents, kicking 860,000 of our friends and neighbors off their health insurance so that billionaires could get yet another tax break. With their votes, they harmed the very communities that they’re supposed to represent. Protecting New York families shouldn’t be a partisan issue—it’s time they remembered that and voted to restore cuts to Medicaid and lower health care costs.”
To learn more about Empire State Voices, please reach out to press@empirestatevoices.org
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About Empire State Voices
Empire State Voices (ESV) is a multi-year campaign dedicated to amplifying the voices of everyday working New Yorkers. ESV is fighting for economic policies that make life more affordable for constituents and holding members of Congress across the state accountable when they fail to do the same.
