Coalition works to protect North Country residents at risk of losing health coverage

PLATTSBURGH | The Healthcare Coalition for the North Country (HCNC) has released a report outlining a proposal to blunt the impact of massive cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies in the North Country. The HCNC is a nonpolitical volunteer coalition of active and retired healthcare professionals, caregivers, and concerned citizens spanning 10 counties in New York. The plan calls for building a safety net of primary care providers, urgent care centers, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and hospital clinics across the 10 counties of the North Country that will provide care to all, regardless of income or insurance. The coalition points to the federal Rural Health Transformation Program as a potential funding opportunity—an initiative expected to provide $50 billion nationwide over five years, including approximately $212 million allocated to New York in its first year. HCNC suggests this funding could be used to expand access to primary and urgent care across the region by supporting the growth of community-based care sites, strengthening the healthcare workforce, enhancing telehealth and 24/7 care access, and repurposing struggling or closed facilities into sustainable models such as clinics or Rural Emergency Hospitals, and offers its expertise to help inform how these resources might best be deployed. There are approximately 170,000 North Country residents on Medicaid (28 percent of 608,000 people), and almost 31,000 have enrolled in ACA plans. The New York State Department of Health estimates 47,000 of these friends and neighbors are likely to lose insurance because of the cuts, most in the next two years. "Children, mothers, pregnant women, the elderly, small businessmen, farmers, and workers will all be impacted, in addition to our poorest residents," said John Rugge, M.D., HCNC member and longtime physician and founder of Hudson Headwaters Health Network. "The cuts also greatly jeopardize our already stressed hospitals, other health care providers, and our overall economy. Up to 5,000 jobs and $1 billion could be lost to our local economies over the next 10 years, primarily through the direct and indirect impact of the cuts on our region's largest employer – healthcare.Local, timely access to primary care keeps people healthier — more preventive services, better management of chronic disease, fewer expensive hospitalizations and ER visits." Through collaboration and use of both existing and new resources, the HCNC plan would expand access to primary and urgent care in those parts of the North Country where they are lacking or are threatened by closure. Specific elements of the plan include: Expand an already existing network of hospital clinics, urgent care centers, and FQHCs across the North Country. Build and support teams of primary caregivers, who are essential for helping us navigate our chaotic system and the complexities of modern medicine. Financially support recruitment, training, and retention of staff, including by repaying their educational debt in return for years worked. Ensure 24/7 availability of primary care teams in person, by telephone, or by email, including by establishing night-time and weekend call centers. Convert closed or financially nonviable hospitals to clinics, mental health hospitals and strategically located Rural Emergency Hospitals. Preserve, strengthen, and expand services at larger surviving hospitals. Support and improve transportation to needed care. Enhance Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and volunteer emergency services. Use funds from the Rural Health Transformation Program to more rapidly expand this safety net across our region. Click this link for the full report available at the HCNC website, northcountrymedicaid.org. ABOUT THE HEALTHCARE COALITION FOR THE NORTH COUNTRY The Healthcare Coalition for the North Country is a nonpolitical, volunteer coalition of active and retired healthcare professionals, caregivers, business and community leaders, Medicaid recipients, and other concerned citizens in New York State. Our mission is to preserve access to Medicaid for all deserving recipients in the 10 North Country counties. Find us online at northcountrymedicaid.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

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Coalition works to protect North Country residents at risk of losing health coverage

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