County Leaders Warn House Budget Bill Could Devastate NY’s Healthcare System

County leaders across New York State came together on May 21 to address the devastating toll the proposed House budget reconciliation bill could have on New Yorkers.

During a press conference organized by the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC), Stephen Acquario, Executive Director of NYSAC, said that Medicaid, New York’s Essential Plan, and nutrition assistance programs such as SNAP would be heavily impacted if the bill passed.

“The state is facing a federal funding cut and new mandates costs of $15 billions annually, not over 10 years – each year, over 10 years,” said Acquario.

The proposed budget cuts could lead to overburdened 911 systems, destabilized safety-net facilities, and healthcare provider closures, according to Acquario.

For rural communities, the cuts could mean greater healthcare deserts in areas already vulnerable to healthcare inequities. “Rural economies are not spared and are in [a] particularly vulnerable position,” said Acquario. “There is an economic ripple across all counties of New York.”

Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger warned that this bill, which could result in more than 200,000 people becoming newly uninsured, would deprive New Yorkers of access to healthcare.

“ We have to push, push, push at the federal level, and I hope that all of my colleagues across the state will do that,” said Metzger. “Depriving people of healthcare is not the direction we want to go.

A major proposal from the bill is significant changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The proposed bill would shift the cost of benefits from the federal government to New York State, costing the state an additional $2.1 billion annually and making local counties vulnerable to higher costs and liabilities.

In February 2025, more than 10,900 households in Ulster County and more than 6,000 in Sullivan County received SNAP benefits, according to NYSAC data.

Acquario expects a vote to be taken up by the U.S. House of Representatives “any day” as the House approaches Memorial Day Weekend.

Image: Stephen Acquario speaking at the May 21 NYSAC virtual press conference (Photo Credit: New York State Association of Counties)