Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget recognizes the need to bolster the broader healthcare system and address the intense pressures of the COVID-19 crisis on the healthcare workers.
We are encouraged that the proposed budget includes substantial investments in efforts to expand the workforce and to recruit and retain nurses and other front-line workers.
NYSNA is still reviewing the specific budget legislation, but believes that the final enacted budget must effectively address the following priorities:
- Implementation of minimum staffing standards for ICU/critical care settings and funding to allow hospitals to improve staffing and ensure safe patient care.
- Funding for public health programs, hospitals, and other health care providers must be sufficient to provide equal access and quality care to all New Yorkers.
- Additional funding is needed to provide healthcare for the more than 1 million New Yorkers who remain uninsured.
- Repealing the Medicaid Global Cap: The current cap will negatively impact safety-net services for the most vulnerable populations and the viability of safety-net hospitals.
- There must be sufficient permanent funding to support retention of nurses and other healthcare workers to meet the state’s 20% expansion target.
- Proposed funding for retention bonuses to recognize the sacrifice of frontline workers should be made available to all workers, including nurses.
- The budget should include funding for the state to immediately implement and effectively enforce health and safety standards that will protect nurses and other healthcare workers from exposure to COVID-19 and other airborne infectious diseases; current standards issued by the state DOH (Department of Health) and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) are not sufficient.
The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) represents more than 42,000 members in New York State. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. For more information, visit nysna.org.
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