According to the New York State Department of Health, more than six million New Yorkers rely on Medicaid — but that coverage is now in jeopardy. President Trump’s recently signed so-called "Big Beautiful Bill" includes sweeping Medicaid cuts, and lawmakers warn that as many as 1.5 million New Yorkers could lose access to care when the law takes effect.
For rural hospitals, the consequences could be especially dire. Healthcare providers already dealing with limited staff, tight budgets, and aging healthcare systems say these cuts will only deepen the crisis in underserved areas.
Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Steven Kelley, President and CEO of Ellenville Regional Hospital in Ulster County, about how this new law could threaten the future of rural healthcare in the Catskills and beyond.