CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis G. Trainor Commends Medicaid Increases in FY 2025 One House Budgets

CWA District 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: March 15, 2024 

Contact: CWANY@berlinrosen.com or Steph Derstine, steph.derstine@berlinrosen.com, 512.820.7903

CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis G. Trainor Commends Medicaid Increases in FY 2025 One House Budgets

State budget resolutions to invest in Medicaid and increase reimbursement rates in FY25 budget represent important step to addressing rampant underfunding at NYS hospitals 

NEW YORK – In response to budget resolutions passed this week by the New York State Senate and Assembly, Dennis G. Trainor, Vice President of Communications Workers of America District 1, which represents over 14,000 healthcare workers across NYS, issued the following statement:

“We commend New York State legislators for taking the needs of our healthcare facilities seriously with their budget resolutions to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates, as well as provide additional financial support to distressed state hospitals.

Too many of New York’s hospitals are struggling due to being structurally underfunded which harms their ability to provide the care New Yorkers deserve. Additionally, it incentivizes labor force reductions, making it more difficult to attract and retain healthcare workers, exacerbating the understaffing crisis that’s jeopardizing quality of patient care. By increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates by 10% across New York State hospitals, the Assembly and Senate are ensuring hospitals can provide quality care to all New York residents regardless of socio-economic status while ensuring they can afford to maintain a fully-staffed, qualified workforce that our communities deserve.

Healthcare workers are the backbone of New York’s hospital system and critical to sustaining the health and wellbeing of our communities. CWA District 1 urges New York State legislators to ensure these increases in the Medicaid reimbursement rates remain in the final FY25 budget and support a stronger healthcare system for all New Yorkers.”

###

CWA District 1 represents 145,000 workers in 200 CWA local unions in New York, New Jersey, New England, and eastern Canada. CWA members work in telecommunications, healthcare, higher education, manufacturing, broadcast and cable television, commercial printing and newspapers, state, local, and country government.