The Healthcare Coalition for the North Country was formed to preserve vital healthcare resources in our region of New York State, as Medicaid funding cuts are now law. As a major payor for health-related services, Medicaid is a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of people in our region. While there is always a need to improve Medicaid, the radical reduction in Medicaid funding of almost $1 trillion and the draconian red tape are neither well considered nor constructive. These changes will affect the provision of healthcare to all residents of the 10 North Country counties. Loss of insurance will affect not only our lower income and disabled neighbors, but also working and middle class residents like farmers, small business owners, their employees, gig workers, part-time workers and independent contractors, who will find health insurance no longer affordable. Medicaid is an essential part of the funding of hospitals, clinics, providers, nursing homes, and home care. For example, under these cuts 9 of the 15 hospitals in the North Country are at risk of closing. Others may have to reduce services. Local economies and governments will be directly affected.

Medicaid is Important in the North Country 

Medicaid is government-provided healthcare insurance for working and middle-class, low-income, and disabled people. It provides significant funding to our local hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, medical practices, and home care. Medicaid also funds many special programs that operate here:

• CHIP: Health insurance for children of working families that can't afford, or don't receive, health insurance through their employment.

• WIC: Provides special support for low-income and pregnant women, infants, and children.

• DUAL INSURANCE FOR THE MEDICARE-ELIGIBLE: Medicaid combines with Medicare to assure insurance coverage for rehabilitation and certain home care services. Medicaid also pays for residential services at nursing homes.

• DISABILITY COVERAGE: Medicaid covers critical physical and mental health services.

• THE ESSENTIAL PLAN: New York State’s public health insurance

• ACA: The Affordable Care Act extends Medicaid coverage for the near and working poor who otherwise can’t get health insurance.

• THE MARKETPLACE: Another name for the ACA.

In all its different forms, Medicaid is an essential linchpin of life in the , which encompasses most of the North Country:

• Medicaid provides support for 170,000 people, representing 28% of our population, including our family members and neighbors, children and grandchildren. 

• More than 50% of all childbirths in the North Country are paid for by Medicaid, and 34.5% of the children here are covered by Medicaid.

• More than 60% of nursing home residents are covered by Medicaid. The North Country has the one of the highest percentages of elderly residents in the nation.

• 16.4% of the North Country’s population is employed by the healthcare sector, which is reliant on Medicaid.

• A significant percentage of the revenue earned by hospitals and all other healthcare providers in the North Country comes from Medicaid reimbursements. This revenue, in turn, is spent locally.