Assembly's Proposed SFY 2023-24 Spending Plan Makes Critical Investments in Medicaid and Public Health

Speaker Carl Heastie and Health Committee Chair Amy Paulin today announced the Assembly’s proposed State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2023-24 spending plan would add $2.7 billion in funding to the Medicaid Program and $110 million in funding for public health.

“The Assembly Majority has always been committed to ensuring that every New Yorker has access to high quality, affordable health care,” said Speaker Heastie. “Our budget ensures that the programs and services New Yorkers count on will continue to have the funding they need to provide the level of care our residents need and deserve.”

“The last few years have reinforced the importance of ensuring adequate access to health care for all New Yorkers, regardless of income or immigration status,” said Assemblymember Paulin. “Now more than ever, our budget must protect and expand the programs and services that we have fought so hard to deliver to all, and our budget reflects our commitment to that goal.”

The Assembly’s proposed spending plan would invest $410 million to eliminate the implementation of the pharmacy benefit carve-out transition to fee-for-service. The proposal would also provide $1.32 billion for hospitals, including:

• $850 million in additional funding for financially distressed hospitals;
• $425 million to increase hospital reimbursement rates by 10 percent; and
• $42.7 million to reject the proposed reduction in the voluntary Hospital Indigent Care Pool.

The plan would also provide $266.5 million for nursing homes, including:

• $100 million in additional funding for financially distressed nursing homes;
• $157.5 million to increase nursing home rates by five percent to a total of 10 percent; and
• $9 million to increase Assisted Living Program reimbursement rates by five percent to a total of 10 percent.

The budget also invests $50 million for community-based organizations, including:

• $30 million to increase federally Qualified Health Center rates;
• $10 million to further expand the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) program; and
• $10 million to expand the CCBHC Indigent Care program.

The budget also makes investments to ensure care for the most vulnerable New Yorkers. The Assembly’s plan would support expanding coverage for undocumented immigrants through the Essential Plan by urging the Department of Health to include all income eligible individuals in the 1332 waiver submission. The budget would also maintain wage parity for Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) workers.

The Assembly proposal would also ensure that counties continue to receive enhanced Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (eFMAP) funds.

Also included in the budget is $8.7 million to continue coverage for certain over-the-counters and language that would maintain prescriber prevails.

The Assembly’s SFY 2023-24 Budget also includes the following restorations:

• $3.82 million for school based health centers;
• $1.2 million for the Nurse-Family Partnership program;
• $1 million for family planning services;
• $1 million for Sickle Cell Anemia funding; and
• $550,000 for the Diversity in Medicine program.