US Senator visits Olean’s Southern Tier Health Care System last week
From the Office of Senator Charles Schumer,
As the fallout from devastating Medicaid cuts in the “Big, Ugly Betrayal” law begins in the Southern Tier and Western New York, U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer visited Southern Tier Health Care System in Olean and announced his legislation – the Protecting Health Care And Lowering Costs Act – to repeal these devastating health care cuts and revive the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, which would lower families’ health care costs and help them retain affordable health care coverage.
“The ‘Big, Ugly Betrayal’ and its huge Medicaid cuts are one of the most devastating bills for health care we’ve ever seen. More than 40,000 New Yorkers in New York’s 23rd Congressional District are expected to lose their Medicaid coverage, with our rural communities and the hospitals that serve them hit the hardest,” said Senator Schumer. “This is a gut punch to Western New York and Southern Tier health care, as this bill will drive up costs for consumers and hurt so many seniors, families, and children who rely on Medicaid just to survive. NY-23 is home to eight at-risk hospitals, more than any other congressional district in the state. If we don’t reverse these devastating cuts, it will only get worse for hospitals, nursing homes, and health care centers across Upstate NY.”
Schumer continued, “That’s why I’m here to push for my bill to repeal all of the health care cuts and revive the ACA premium tax credits that Republicans allowed to expire last year. We should be making health care more affordable, not ripping it away and making it more expensive to get coverage. The fallout is just beginning from the devastating cuts in this horrible bill, with rural hospitals across the country treating more uninsured patients, facing longer ER wait times, and figuring out how to make ends meet and provide for every patient. We must right this wrong, and I will lead the way to protect our hospitals and make health care more affordable for New Yorkers.”
Schumer’s new legislation would reverse all the health care cuts in the “Big, Ugly Betrayal,” including those to Medicaid, and would permanently revive the ACA premium tax credits that expired in December 2025. The entire Democratic caucus has signed on to co-sponsor the legislation. The full text of the legislation can be seen here. The “Big, Ugly Betrayal” is estimated to kick nearly 15 million people across America off their health insurance and totals more than one trillion dollars in health care cuts.
“In the Southern Tier and Western New York, the average couple is expected to pay an additional $260 per month, higher than the statewide average, due to the absence of an ACA premium tax credit extension in last year’s bill,” said Schumer.
“I appreciate Senator Schumer taking the time to come to Cattaraugus County and hear firsthand about the challenges facing healthcare providers and the communities we serve. Rural communities face unique challenges when it comes to healthcare affordability, access to services, and Medicaid reimbursement. These are issues that impact the people and families we serve every day. Having the opportunity to share what we are seeing firsthand and discuss solutions is an important step toward ensuring our rural communities have access to the care they need, both now and in the future,” said Donna Kahm, President & CEO of Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc.
“Rural healthcare operates in an incredibly challenging environment, where even the smallest changes in funding or reimbursement can have a devastating impact. Collectively, we appreciate Senator Schumer and leaders at all levels of government, regardless of political affiliation, who take the time to listen and support efforts to address the challenges facing our region. Sustaining rural healthcare requires more than existing funding allocations. It will take additional investment and strong partnerships to ensure we can continue to provide access to essential healthcare services to the hundreds of thousands of people across our region who depend on us,” said Steven M. Jackson, CFRE, Foundation President at Olean General Hospital.
“More than ever, rural communities across New York need access to Medicaid and affordable health insurance. In the 23rd Congressional District, communities like the City of Olean depend on reliable, affordable health care for working families, seniors, and those who need it most. Thank you to Senator Chuck Schumer for advocating to reverse and repeal Medicaid cuts and for standing up to protect health care for Western New York and the Southern Tier,” said City of Olean Mayor Amy Sherburne.
Senate Democrats are fighting back and pushing to reverse these devastating cuts and revive tax credits to make health care affordable. Overall, these cuts could rip away health coverage from more than 40,000 New Yorkers in the North Country’s 23st Congressional District – which is home to eight at-risk hospitals, including Olean General Hospital in Cattaraugus County, more than any other congressional district in the state – while also increasing ER wait times, increasing out-of-pocket costs and premiums, reducing medical services, and blowing huge holes in county budgets. Olean General Hospital was named by the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform as at risk due to financial distress, and 36% of the Cattaraugus County population is covered by Medicaid.
Schumer explained that we have only just begun to feel the negative impacts of health care cuts – with hospitals around the country reducing staff and cutting back on services. In addition, Schumer said the health care cuts will shift the cost of care to local governments, resulting in agonizing decisions, with county executives and state legislators forced to decide where to make up for the huge budget hole caused by the staggering loss in federal funding. Counties like Cattaraugus and taxpayers across the Southern Tier and Western New York will be forced to shoulder the burden of these Medicaid cuts, using more local dollars to manage people’s coverage with less federal funding coming in.
The fallout from these cuts to Medicaid has already started to hit New York, with experts saying this is only the beginning. Ellis Medicine last year announced it was moving outpatient surgical procedures performed at Bellevue Woman’s Center in Niskayuna to its main campus in Schenectady due to uncertainty about federal Medicaid cuts. Patients worry this is the first step in the Niskayuna hospital’s eventual closure. Last year, Garnet Health laid off 42 employees and cut programs for Hudson Valley patients, citing the disastrous Medicaid cuts in the “Big, Beautiful Bill.” Also last year, Kaleida Health announced it will close Buffalo Therapy Services clinics, leading to more layoffs.
Schumer said this is a dark preview of what could come now that the largest health care cut in history has been enacted. The Medicaid cuts threaten to force health care facilities to offer fewer services and reduce staff, undoubtedly reducing access to health care for millions of Americans. Overall, New York State estimates that the state will lose $13.5 billion per year because of the new federal health care cuts. With local communities already panicking about the devastating impact of these unpopular cuts, Schumer is leading the fight to reverse these disastrous policies and protect health care for millions of Americans.
