The Greater New York Hospital Association is urging that a state healthcare contingency fund be created amid the threat of federal funding cuts.
Because the recently released federal budget proposes healthcare cuts of $4.3 billion in fiscal 2020 and $11.2 billion in fiscal 2022, the association stated Tuesday that New York "should set aside contingency funds in case even a portion of them become a reality."
The association's call for such a fund was included in a letter to members outlining its positions on executive, Assembly and Senate proposed budgets.
It stated that, even without the new federal budget proposal, the state is "facing $600 million in cuts to its safety-net hospitals on Oct. 1 unless Congress acts."
A spokesman for the association said it is not identifying a specific dollar amount for the proposed fund.
"While we understand the budgetary limits the state faces, no other sector faces the cuts the health care community confronts," the association said. "Without this additional funding, access to health care across the entire state is at risk."
"Amid threat of federal cuts, N.Y. hospital association urges contingency fund" originally appeared in Crain's New York Business.
