Community Health Care Association of NYS

One additional primary care provider per 10,000 people leads to 5.5% fewer hospital visits and 11% fewer emergency room visits. Yet only about 5% of U.S. healthcare spending goes toward primary care. Read my op-ed with Senator Gustavo Rivera on the Primary Care Investment Act at the link in my bio.

POLITICO New York health reporter Katelyn Cordero talks CHCs, health care funding, and what made it into the final state budget deal on The Capitol Pressroom. Click to listen!

State budget grapples with federal health care changes Politico New York's Katelyn Cordero talks about health care funding that made it into the state budget and what got left out.

Thank you Rep. George Latimer for meeting with CHCANYS and Sun River Health to discuss the critical role community health centers play in keeping New Yorkers healthy. We appreciate your support and the opportunity to highlight the importance of investing in primary care.

"Primary care is where healthcare begins. It’s where children get vaccinated, chronic illnesses are managed, mental health needs are identified, and preventable diseases are caught before they become life-threatening. Strong primary care systems save lives, reduce hospitalizations, and lower healthcare costs for the people and the state."

Community Health Centers are the heart of primary care - and we could not agree more.

Invest in Primary Care Before More New Yorkers Are Left Behind - EMPIRE REPORT NEW YORK 2026® NEW YORK'S 24/7 NEWS SITE New York's front page for political news. Latest NY politics news, reports, and columnists

"A healthcare system that works for medically underserved communities cannot be built on rushed visits and shrinking resources. The Legislature should pass this bill and Gov. Kathy Hochul should sign it — to protect access to care across Long Island and statewide."

Read more here: https://libn.com/2026/05/28/albany-protect-340b-long-island-health-centers/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSKu9RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeRGuRnEreEAKRfJb69LvgQ1CUYp95-MGLJhrQDTZ0KMHO67XnuzW3OT-4m-4_aem_qIFMdKN1oDZAEIH0KaaBMQ

Community Health Centers in the News!

"Community Health Centers provide a wide range of services available to anyone"

As rural medical access shrinks, Community Health Center of the North Country is working to fill in the gaps - North Country Now CANTON — For nearly five decades, the Community Health Center of the North Country has quietly grown from a small organization focused on caring for underserved residents into a major regional …

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 1 in 5 people are living with a mental illness. Reaching out to a professional about what you’re experiencing, no matter who you are, is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. At Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc., we understand that opening up about current struggles or past experiences can be difficult, and our team is here to listen, support, and help you every step of the way. When you’re ready, call 716-986-9199 to set up a time to talk – we have flexible hours in-person and by telehealth. 💚

If you or someone you know is in a crisis, call 988 for free 24/7 support.

Learn more: https://chcb.net/behavioral-health/

Big Pharma and pharmacy middlemen continue to target the 340B program, putting patient care at risk. New York lawmakers still have time to act, but the window is closing.

This new op-ed by CHCANYS Board Chair Judith Watson highlights why protecting 340B matters for community health centers and the millions of New Yorkers who rely on them for affordable, accessible care.

The Legislature should pass the 340B Prescription Drug Anti-Discrimination Act (A.6222/S.1913) before the end of session and ensure health centers can continue providing care in communities across New York.

Albany Still Has Time to Protect 340B. But Not Much. CHCANYS Board Chair Judith Watson on why the state Legislature must act before the session ends.

The budget might be done but the legislative session's not over yet and there's still a 340B battle to be won for Community Health Centers and other safety net providers!

So CHCANYS and our members spent the day visiting lawmakers in the LOB, urging them to stand with patients, keep medications affordable, and support the 340B Prescription Drug Anti-Discrimination Act!

Federally Qualified Health Centers will receive $80 million in the current fiscal year, with the possibility of the same allocation in subsequent years. The clinics are one of the main sources of medical care for people who are uninsured. Rose Duhan, president and CEO of the Community Health Care Association of New York State, called the funding an "important acknowledgement" of the clinics’ role. However, she said it does not cover current Medicaid gaps or the expected costs of treating thousands of additional uninsured patients. "Many of those newly uninsured will turn to Community Health Centers, which already care for a disproportionate share of uninsured or underinsured patients."

State budget funds hospitals, nursing homes but offers nothing to those losing insurance The state budget allocates $1.5 billion in new funding to hospitals and nursing homes, but includes nothing for thousands of New Yorkers who will lose insurance coverage this year.