1199 members protesting outside of Empire State Plaza in Albany, New York – Photo Credit: Brianna Knibbs
Thousands of 1199SEIU members and healthcare workers gathered together at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, New York to protest against Medicaid cuts on March 23rd.
State lawmakers outlined proposals that would cut $550 million in Medicaid funding in the 2020 fiscal year. The proposal was made by New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo after the state was facing a $2.3 billion shortfall due to the federal law on deducting a limit of $10,000 for state and local taxes. Originally, President Trump proposed his 2020 budget reducing Medicare and Medicaid in more than hundreds of billions of dollars. According to the Times Telegram, the proposal cuts includes an across the board cut to healthcare providers including hospitals, removing a planned two percent increase in Medicaid payments to hospitals, elimination of indigent care pool funding, and many more.
Protesters were expressing their concerns about not receiving the medical needs that they need for themselves and their relatives. Many healthcare providers spoke at the rally and were in fear of hospitals not getting enough funding, shortage of staff, job loss, or being close down if medicaid was cut.
“We’re here to raise our voices, to say healthcare matters. People matter,” said George Gresham, President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. Ivanna Tavarez, a secretary at the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East Headquarters shared her concerns on medicaid cuts.“My biggest concern is community hospitals closing down, clinics as well. We won’t have easy access as to checkups whatever the case may be. Unfortunately for 911, ambulances won’t be here until fifteen minutes. That’s a problem, anything can happen in fifteen minutes. It only take seven minutes before your brain actually passes out. If you think about, we’re not giving thought to saving lives. We’re thinking about money at this point which makes no sense.”
Tavarez hopes that the state won’t cut medicaid. If they do, she is hoping that there will be a plan made by healthcare workers to fight against medicaid cuts.
While protesting, a group of people brought out many ambulance stretchers as props to show an example of what would happen if there wasn’t as much access to hospitals. Majority of the rally participants were given hospital attire and hats to dress up in.
Protesters rallied around the New York State Assembly and the New York State Capitol. At the end of March, Governor Cuomo and state legislators agreed to a $175.5 billion spending plan which increases a $550 million in Medicaid funding, according to Crain’s New York.
