The Peru Gazette

Assemblyman Michael Cashman News Release of September 1, 2026 – “We have known cuts to Medicaid and increased eligibility requirements to access coverage were coming ever since the passage of the H.R.1 bill early last year. These cuts will undoubtedly result in lowered access to routine appointments, quality care, medication, and other healthcare needs for millions of New Yorkers. The changes have already begun to put strain on our local medical providers and instilled fear in many who rely on these programs.”

“Starting in September, New Yorkers enrolled in Medicaid plans will receive notice of potential changes in coverage via mail or email. It is essential that enrollees make sure their contact information is up-to-date with Medicaid to make sure they get the most accurate information regarding their specific situation.”

“Starting on January 1, 2027, many Medicaid enrollees will have new work and eligibility reporting requirements. Enrollees will be informed as to if they need to meet these requirements. Exemptions are made for individuals who are disabled, veterans with total disabilities, pregnant or recently pregnant individuals, caregivers to disabled individuals and young children, and additional qualifiers. A full list of exempt individuals can be found online here: https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/stay-covered. Enrollees will likely have to provide evidence of their exemption to renew their coverage.”

“Many enrollees will also have to verify their continued eligibility twice a year as opposed to the current once a year. Enrollees should make sure their contact information is up-to-date, especially if they have recently moved.”

“While addressing abuse and fraud in our social systems is vital, implementing these measures will cause many eligible enrollees to be unjustly kicked from coverage due to the higher likelihood of clerical errors and filing mistakes. For the vast majority of enrollees, Medicaid coverage is a lifeline between their temporary hardship and accessing essential services. Adding barriers to health care is simply unjust, especially to communities that are already experiencing hardship and difficulty accessing care.”

“These cuts will also have a direct impact on our own rural communities and our already-strained providers. Our hospitals rely on Medicaid dollars to function. When people do not have healthcare coverage, they do not go to the doctor. People will get sick. People who have preexisting conditions will go without treatment. People will inevitably die because of these cuts and the lack of access to care.”

“As of July 2026, Clinton County had roughly 19,500 residents enrolled in Medicaid, Franklin County had roughly 14,500, and Essex County 7,900. These are thousands of residents right here in the North Country that are facing major changes to and potential loss of critical health care coverage.” 

Matej Kollar, Chief Financial Officer, University of Vermont Health Network-Alice Hyde Medical Center (AHMC) and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH), said: “In our Emergency Department and clinics, we are already seeing more patients without health insurance as a result of changes to eligibility requirements and the increased cost of health insurance. With additional changes anticipated in the coming year, we expect to see that number increase even more. These changes come at a time when rural hospitals, like CVPH, are already operating on razor thin margins.”

“Our priority has been and will always be to provide the care our community needs. We look forward to working with our elected officials to ensure the North Country continues to have accessible and affordable healthcare now and for generations to come.” 

Bill Schneider, RN, New York State Nurses Association Second Vice President and a nurse at Adirondack Medical Center, said: “As a nurse in the North Country, I see how our patients need access to quality local care to stay healthy. We care for a large number of people who rely on Medicare and Medicaid. The federal Medicaid cuts will decimate rural healthcare and our patients’ access to care. We’ve already seen hospitals cut services and propose maternal health closures in anticipation of the deeper federal cuts that are coming this winter. We urge the Trump administration to reverse course and invest in the health of our communities instead of cutting access to lifesaving care.” 

Helen Wallis, 1199SEIU Vice President for the North Country, said: “Deep Medicaid cuts have a devastating impact on our communities, hospitals, and nursing homes. We’ve already seen cuts to the healthcare workforce throughout the North Country – we don’t want to see more jobs lost as a result of last year’s H.R. 1. Access to critical medical care in our rural communities is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. When access to care is limited, people will not get the quality care they need to live and thrive.”

“We need to stand together as a community to call upon our federal government to reestablish Medicaid coverage to those in need while simultaneously preventing the abuse and fraud of these systems,” Cashman said. “New York State simply cannot foot the bill that this deficit will cause. I will do everything within my power to minimize the harms the North Country feels.”