FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2025
Contact: Sarah Murphy, sarah.nysbha@gmail.com/ 518-694-3423
STATEMENT APPLAUDING SFY 2026 ENACTED STATE BUDGET
(Albany, NY)- “The New York State School-Based Health Alliance, on behalf of the over 250 School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) across the state, their dedicated health care staff, the children and families served and our many committed partners, praises the enacted SFY 2026 State Budget which includes vital funding to support the health care services that are so essential to our most underserved youth. And critically, due to the tireless efforts and support by the Senate and Assembly, the final budget prevents the existential threat facing SBHCs by delaying for at least one year a shift from Medicaid fee-for-service to managed care.”
“These budget actions ensure the stability and preservation of this vital safety net provider that provides access to primary care, dental, mental health and reproductive healthcare for over 250,000 children and adolescents each year. We are so grateful to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart- Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Deputy Senate Majority Leader Mike Gianaris, Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, Senate and Assembly Health Committee Chairs and champions Gustavo Rivera and Amy Paulin, and all of their legislative colleagues and staff who continue to make SBHCs in their communities a priority.”
“It is also imperative that we recognize the support of so many statewide and local partners who have stood with us for many years to fight for SBHCs and the children served. Included below is the list of the many organizations who have joined with us in advocating for sound state policies and funding to ensure the sustainability and growth of this child-centered model”
“The actions taken in the SFY 2026 final budget to stop the devastating carve-in of SBHCs into managed care and to provide funding to support the work and mission of SBHCs sends a strong message to the children and adolescents in our state and their families who face so many challenges and barriers to accessing healthcare, that they are valued, that they are a priority for New York State lawmakers and that their legislative representatives will do whatever it takes to protect them and their right to equal and high quality healthcare. Further, it gives them the assurance that they can count on their SBHC to be there whenever they need it. “
“Our message remains the same as it has been for the last decade related to the managed care carve-in of SBHCs since this was proposed during the Cuomo-era Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT). SBHCs need a permanent carve out of managed care, so they may remain in Medicaid fee-for-service and so all of their time, staff and resources can be exclusively focused on providing healthcare for children in our most urban and rural underserved communities. We will not relent in our advocacy for a permanent carve out of MMC for SBHCs in order to put the needs of these children and families first.”
SBHC Partners:
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New York School-Based Health Alliance 1199SEIU Greater New York Hospital Association Healthcare Association of New York State Community Health Care Association of New York State New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) The Foundling New York State Academy of Family Physicians New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Kaleida Health Northwell Health Montefiore Health Community Health Network New York School-Based Health Foundation Long Island Jewish Medical Center/CMCC Children’s Aid NYC NYU Langone Health Morris Heights Health Center Family Health Centers at NYU Langone New York-Presbyterian Hospital Harmony Healthcare Long Island States Island University Hospital Healthy Capital District Open Door Family Medical Center Community Health Academy of the Heights Essex Street Academy Lower Manhattan Academy Arts Academy Urban Assembly Academy of Government and Law High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies Rochester Regional Health Bassett Healthcare Network Sun River Health Community League of the Heights Academy of Innovative Technology Far Rockaway Educational Campus, Pathways to Graduation New York State Community Schools Network Village Academy, Brian Piccolo MS53 Campus North Country Family Health Center Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center, Inc. Urban Health Plan University of Rochester Institute for Family Health Syracuse Community Health East Harlem Council for Human Services Inc./ BorikenNeighborhood Health Center NYU Langone Hospital – Long Island Family Health Network of CNY, Inc. NY Society of Adolescent Health & Medicine Ariel Tassy Nunez, MD, Deborah Saunders, MD, Eric Weiselberg, MD, Rachel Bergeson, MD, Khalida Itriyeva, MD, members, AAP Chapter 2 Committee on Youth and Adolescents Finger Lakes Community Health Smile New York Outreach FHC at NYU Langone School Dental Program BMS Family Health and Wellness Centers Connext Care Mount Sinai Hospital Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center Network Ryan Health |
