Governor Hochul Slams Federal Policy That Puts Children’s Health Insurance at Risk in New York

New Federal Guidance Threatens Medicaid and Child Health Plus Coverage for Over 750,000 Children in New York

Governor Kathy Hochul warned that a new federal policy threatens to disrupt health coverage for more than 750,000 young children across New York State. Today, the Governor released new, county-level data showing that thousands of children in every county could lose coverage when the new policy from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) takes effect in 2027.

“New York will not stand by while the federal government jeopardizes children’s health coverage,” Governor Hochul said. “This misguided policy threatens the progress we’ve made in keeping young children connected to care during the most critical years of their development. We will use every tool at our disposal to protect access to Medicaid and Child Health Plus for the more than 750,000 young children across New York State who depend on it for a healthy start in life.”

New York recently implemented a policy ensuring continuous coverage for children from birth to age six enrolled in Medicaid and Child Health Plus, shielding them from losing coverage due to changes in family circumstances. Gaps in coverage for young children can be detrimental to their long-term health and well-being. These experiences can have negative long-term implications for children's mental and physical health, educational attainment, and financial security.

A letter from CMS outlined the federal government’s decision to phase out programs that provide continuous Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations, including New York’s new initiative. The CMS letter does not immediately revoke funding or end the program, but it indicates that federal officials will not support extensions or approve similar initiatives moving forward for the program that provides health insurance. This policy, implemented in January 2025, was approved under a federal 1115 demonstration waiver, ensures consistent access to medical care for children, regardless of short-term changes in family income.

This new policy comes in addition to the devastating impacts that are already known of the Republicans' Big Ugly Bill on New York State, and the budget cuts to health care and other benefits will hurt all New Yorkers. The changes will eliminate insurance coverage for millions of New Yorkers, destabilize health insurance programs statewide, and have an overall fiscal impact on the State and the New York health care system of almost $13 billion per year.

These changes will make it harder for providers statewide to keep operating, making it more difficult for all New Yorkers to find care when they need it. More about the legislation's devastating impact on New York can be found here and here.

The county breakdown has been updated and now reflects the most recent enrollment figures for the total population 0-6 in Medicaid and CHP. The total enrollment has come down to 750K. 

COUNTY	CHP	MEDICAID	TOTAL
ALBANY	1,607	7,244	8,851
ALLEGANY	216	1,275	1,491
BROOME	989	5,726	6,715
CATTARAUGUS	420	2,328	2,748
CAYUGA	516	1,969	2,485
CHAUTAUQUA	568	3,972	4,540
CHEMUNG	390	2,578	2,968
CHENANGO	361	1,433	1,794
CLINTON	468	1,770	2,238
COLUMBIA	358	1,171	1,529
CORTLAND	288	1,363	1,651
DELAWARE	238	989	1,227
DUTCHESS	1,479	5,676	7,155
ERIE	4,116	26,045	30,161
ESSEX	232	645	877

FRANKLIN	250	1,250	1,500
FULTON	391	1,749	2,140
GENESEE	386	1,442	1,828
GREENE	304	1,053	1,357
HAMILTON	23	72	95
HERKIMER	457	1,670	2,127
JEFFERSON	609	3,074	3,683
LEWIS	234	666	900
LIVINGSTON	357	1,122	1,479
MADISON	404	1,434	1,838
MONROE	4,518	20,885	25,403
MONTGOMERY	328	1,788	2,116
NASSAU	6,973	26,550	33,523
NIAGARA	1,033	5,650	6,683
ONEIDA	1,430	7,464	8,894
ONONDAGA	2,432	13,350	15,782

ONTARIO	695	2,107	2,802
ORANGE	3,658	19,346	23,004
ORLEANS	235	1,225	1,460
OSWEGO	612	3,585	4,197
OTSEGO	334	1,191	1,525
PUTNAM	374	1,471	1,845
RENSSELAER	853	4,016	4,869
ROCKLAND	5,482	26,177	31,659
ST. LAWRENCE	1,265	2,652	3,917
SARATOGA	1,161	3,445	4,606
SCHENECTADY	153	5,276	5,429
SCHOHARIE	91	659	750
SCHUYLER	207	355	562
SENECA	557	738	1,295

STEUBEN	524	2,750	3,274
SUFFOLK	8,594	37,314	45,908
SULLIVAN	527	3,616	4,143
TIOGA	292	1,265	1,557
TOMPKINS	364	1,551	1,915
ULSTER	939	3,898	4,837
WARREN	455	1,406	1,861
WASHINGTON	505	1,511	2,016
WAYNE	715	2,300	3,015
WESTCHESTER	3,806	20,642	24,448
WYOMING	247	859	1,106
YATES	165	509	674
BRONX	5,112	82,561	87,673
KINGS	14,225	127,242	141,467

NEW YORK	2,715	32,580	35,295
QUEENS	12,061	89,219	101,280
RICHMOND	2,016	16,017	18,033
TOTAL	101,314	650,886	752,200
COUNTY	CHP	MEDICAID	TOTAL

Attorney General James Fights to Protect Immigrant Communities and Public Safety in Rochester

 

AG James Files Amicus Brief Arguing Sanctuary City Laws Keep New Yorkers Safe, Urges Court to Dismiss DOJ’s Lawsuit

New York Attorney General Letitia James today took action to stand up for vulnerable immigrant communities in Rochester. In an amicus brief filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, Attorney General James emphasized that localities with laws that limit local authorities’ involvement in federal immigration enforcement keep communities safe and allow local law enforcement to use resources to address local public safety priorities, such as fighting crime and reducing gun violence. Attorney General James further argues that Rochester’s longstanding law, often referred to as a “sanctuary city” law, is constitutional because the Constitution grants states and their localities power over the day-to-day public safety of residents within their jurisdiction. In the brief filed today, Attorney General James asks the court to grant judgment in Rochester’s favor in the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuit against the city.

“For years, these laws in Rochester and cities throughout New York have kept New Yorkers safe,” said Attorney General James. “The Trump administration’s attacks on immigrant communities are cruel and shameful. Rochester’s law is constitutional, and my office will continue to use every tool at our disposal to protect New Yorkers.”

Rochester’s law, like many other sanctuary city laws, limits local or state agencies’ involvement in federal civil immigration enforcement and is intended to build trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement and ensure local resources are spent on local priorities. Rochester first enacted its law in 1986 and later updated it in 2017. It does not limit cooperation between local and federal authorities on criminal matters. In April, DOJ filed a lawsuit against Rochester, arguing that the city’s law is unconstitutional because it is preempted by federal law. In her brief, Attorney General James argues that Rochester’s law does not violate the Constitution, and that the 10th amendment reserves police power to states and their localities.

Attorney General James writes that the law helps keep New Yorkers safe because it encourages individuals in immigrant communities to report crimes, serve as witnesses, and seek critical medical care or social services without fearing deportation. Studies have repeatedly indicated that greater involvement of local law enforcement in immigration enforcement makes immigrant communities less likely to interact with police, and more likely to become victims of crime or other exploitation. Other research has concluded that immigrant community members often refrain from seeking vital local services, including health care services, when they fear that local officials could report them to immigration authorities. Delaying medical care for fear of deportation can cause serious health complications for people who need it.

Attorney General James explains that imposing federal immigration priorities on already strained local officials can detract from local needs. A former Rochester police chief, who held the position at the time of the enactment of the city’s 2017 law, explained that it was intended to avoid diverting scarce resources and time away from the community’s public safety priorities, like reducing gun violence.

Attorney General James is asking the court to grant judgment in Rochester’s favor in the DOJ’s lawsuit and uphold Rochester’s sanctuary city law.