To view the full op-ed, you can visit the Press Republican
On July 2, Behavioral Health Services North joined regional healthcare partners, hospitals and union leaders to urge our representatives to consider the needs of the rural communities they were elected to serve.
Just days later, those same elected officials made the conscious decision to move forward with significant cuts to Medicaid, which will undoubtedly cause a ripple effect throughout the North Country. This will affect access to healthcare services and have an impact on our region’s economy in ways we cannot yet imagine.
Like many nonprofit providers across the country, we rely on Medicaid to help us deliver care that’s accessible, effective and centered on recovery. and I’m proud of the work our team accomplishes every day to support people facing mental health and substance use challenges.
According to the Fiscal Policy Institute, 8 out of 16 hospitals in Rep. Elise Stefanik’s district depends on Medicaid for over 25% of their revenue.
The latest monthly Enrollment Databook from the NYS Department of Health shows that within the five North Country counties that BHSN serves, there are nearly 75,000 community members enrolled in Medicaid. These community members have access to our team of over 600 specially trained and certified employees and the comprehensive care and services we provide.
Changes resulting from the recent passage of the “big bill” could make it much harder for people to get the care they need, especially in New York’s North Country. That’s why we remain fully committed to serving our community as a resource and solution for behavioral healthcare needs.
Most changes to Medicaid funding under the new law will take effect in 2028, and according to the Congressional Budget Office, approximately 16 million people nationwide could lose their health insurance coverage by 2034 due to these cuts and changes to the Affordable Care Act marketplace. However, some of the work requirements are set to begin no later than December 2026.
As we review these requirements and timelines to better understand impacts on care in the coming months, we will remain in constant communication with the communities we serve.
Here’s what you need to know:
If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health emergency, please call the Crisis Helpline at 866-577-3836 or 988.
For more information or to access services, please call the BHSN Center for Wellbeing at 518-563-8000.
You can also contact the New York State Medicaid Helpline Toll Free at 800-541-2831 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
For additional information, find your NYS Local Department of Social Services online at www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/ldss.htm
At BHSN, we’re committed to helping people heal and thrive — but we can’t do it alone. We need a robust Medicaid system to maintain access to care and promote recovery in every community, from our largest cities to our most rural towns.
We’re urging lawmakers to reconsider their policy, slow down, listen and make informed decisions. Cutting support for mental health and substance use care won’t save money in the long run. It will just shift costs elsewhere — to hospitals, police and families who are already doing their best to cope. Our rural neighbors and friends will, without a doubt, be greatly impacted by these cuts.
Please invest in people, and don’t let policy decisions create more barriers to care in the very places where healing and hope are needed most.