With NY Hospitals Facing Closures, New Yorkers Blast Rep. Lawler’s Medicaid Cuts

As Medicaid rule hearings begin, and on the 61st anniversary of Medicaid, Empire State Voices hosts “Medicaid Matters” rally to hold Rep. Lawler accountable for gutting Medicaid funding and hurting New York’s Hospitals

Photo from Empire State Voices

HUDSON VALLEY, NEW YORK — Today, Empire State Voices hosted the first of two “Medicaid Matters” rallies outside of Northern Westchester Hospital, calling out Congressman Mike Lawler for gutting funding for hospitals and healthcare programs, and kicking families off the New York Essential Plan. 

The “Medicaid Matters” rallies come on the 61st anniversary of Medicaid being signed into law, highlighting how vital these hospitals are for healthcare in the Hudson Valley and to uplift the voices of the 14,000 people in NY-17 who have lost their Medicaid coverage as a result of Congressman Lawler’s vote to cut healthcare funding.

This week, court hearings began over the new Medicaid rules, which are slated to go into effect in January, leading to even more people with serious illnesses, from cancer to sickle cell disease, losing their coverage. 

During the rally, NY-17 constituents blasted Rep. Lawler for supporting policies that cut funding for Medicaid and healthcare services, and demanded action to lower healthcare costs and to keep hospitals open. 

Two hospitals in Lawler’s district and 45 across the state were deemed at risk of closure, layoffs, or reduced services due to Medicaid cuts, according to a recent report. Lawler, when confronted about the impact of the Republican Tax Law on rising healthcare costs and hospitals, accused hospital officials of “parroting talking points.” 

“As an Air Force veteran and a representative of lab techs at my local union, I have seen people from all different backgrounds who need help getting cancer screenings, affording prescriptions, even accessing basic healthcare, and they depend on Medicaid to get it,” said Joe from Pawling. “Congressman Lawler’s extreme agenda is hurting my neighbors and me. He must start making decisions that lower our healthcare costs, because we can’t afford for him to keep attacking our access to healthcare.”

“After I was diagnosed with cancer during my last trimester of pregnancy, my daughter only survived because Medicaid made it possible for her to receive 12 hours of care at home every day,” said Karen from Yorktown. “Medicaid is a lifeline for families just like mine, and Mike Lawler still voted to cut it. I will be out here every day reminding him of the harm he has done in our communities.”

Throughout July, Empire State Voices has engaged with communities across the district to uplift voices of New Yorkers who are feeling the impact of healthcare cuts in the Republican Tax Law, which Rep. Mike Lawler proudly supports. 

Empire State Voices is calling on Congressman Lawler to take meaningful action to help lower healthcare costs for Hudson Valley families. Read more about the devastating impact the legislation is already having here. 
 

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About Empire State Voices 

Empire State Voices is a multi-year campaign dedicated to amplifying the voices of everyday working New Yorkers. We are 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. To learn more about Empire State Voices, contact press@empirestatevoices.org