Hochul: “Are you with your children or against our children …?”
KINGSTON – Billions in proposed health care funding cuts coming
from Washington are prompting state officials to fight for vital safety
net programs. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul delivered a fiery message Thursday
at the Health Alliance Hospital in Kingston.
“Are you with our children, or against our children, it’s that black and white, I want that question asked,” Hochul told the assembled gathering of local politicians. “If we have to shame people into doing the right thing, by God let’s do that. What a disgrace, to allow the Children’s Health Insurance Program to lapse on September 30 without a plan to restore it. Who does that? How heartless can you be?”
The Medicaid program provides physician, dental and vision checkups to 8.9 million underprivileged kids nationally.
President Trump signed an executive order Thursday paving the way for people not covered by an employer to buy lower-cost plans that offer fewer benefits.
State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker issued a letter to Eric Hargan, Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services warning that federal cuts will jeopardize health care for 350,000 children in New York.
Zucker warned that New York will not be able to continue the current Child Health Plus program if Congress fails to renew $1 billion in federal funding, and he said that Governor Andrew Cuomo will have no choice but to call a special session of the Legislature.
“New York is under assault, the Governor and I are truly fed up,” Hochul said, noting that attacks on affordable health care proposed by Republican-controlled Washington since 2017 adversely affect the Empire State.
