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Elmhurst, Queens – On Thursday, Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, was joined by Assembly Member Catalina Cruz, Dr. Laura Iavicoli, Chief Medical Officer at Elmhurst Hospital, Dr. Pilar Gonzalez Head of the Pediatrics Clinic at Elmhurst Hospital, Dr. Frances Quee, President of Doctors Council SEIU, Vernon Dietz of 1199 SEIU, Juan Pinzon, Director of Government Relations at Community Service Society, Erin Drinkwater, Chief of Government and Relations at MetroPlus Health and staff from the pediatrics clinic at Elmhurst Hospital to celebrate the inclusion of González-Rojas’ bill, A8146/S7747 in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 State Budget. The legislation is slated to provide continual health care coverage enrollment for qualifying children from birth to 6 years old in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Of the almost 90 million people on Medicaid and CHIP, over 40 million are children.

Toward the end of 2023, as President Biden’s public health emergency declaration ended, 400,000 New Yorkers were purged from Medicaid due to paperwork issues. Nearly half of all children and over three-quarters of low-income children in New York rely on Medicaid and Child Health Plus (CHP) for their health care. Parents were required to re-enroll their children in these programs each year, no matter if their eligibility changed, which caused the disenrollment mishap. This administrative hurdle, though, has affected families before the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in lapsed coverage for thousands of children.

“We cannot compromise on caring for our children and families. Hundreds of thousands of our most vulnerable New Yorkers are left exposed due to lack of health coverage. I am so proud that my legislation to provide continual coverage from birth to age 6 was passed in the state budget and grateful to Speaker Heastie for his support. Now we need the federal government to do as it has done with eight other states and approve the waiver with urgency. This will drive down administrative costs for hospitals and reduce the burden of paperwork for our working families. Though we are on the other side of the pandemic, our low-income children and families are always at greater risk of health issues. Continual coverage will shore up the health and safety of all New Yorkers,” said Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas.

The bill authorizes New York to join other states in submitting an 1115 federal waiver to provide continuous eligibility to all children who enroll in Medicaid and Child Health Plus until they reach age six. Continuous coverage for young children would improve health outcomes, prevent financial hardship, and address coverage gaps for families. Children with stable health coverage are more likely to experience improved health outcomes, lower rates of disability, higher educational attainment, and more financial security in adulthood.

Now that the bill has passed, local legislators are urging the federal government to approve the 1115 waiver to enact the bill and save the lives of millions of children across New York State.

“We represent a community that is often left behind and forgotten and this measure is one way to provide more health care access to children who come through the door at Elmhurst Hospital. This is an incredibly important bill, and I am extremely grateful we can provide continual coverage so that they do not have to worry about having to sign up again. It will save time, money and lives,” said Assembly Member Catalina Cruz.

“In my three decades of service as a pediatrician in the Bronx and as President of the Doctors Council, SEIU, I am proud to represent our members who have been taking care of children in New York 24/7 regardless of their ability to pay and I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact of accessible healthcare on the lives of children. It is with this understanding that I lend my wholehearted support to the initiative to extend health coverage to all children in the State of New York up to the age of six,” said Dr. Francis Quee, Pediatrician and President of Doctors Council, SEIU.

"We are tremendously grateful to Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas for her leadership in advocating for continual health care coverage for children in our community," said Dr. Pilar Gonzalez, Director of NYC Health + Hospitals/ Elmhurst's Pediatric Clinic. "The inclusion of this bill in the state budget is a crucial step in ensuring that the patients we serve can access the care they need."

“As one the state’s health insurance enrollment agencies, the Community Service Society of New York (CSS) knows from firsthand experience how children can lose coverage because of administrative burdens,” said Elisabeth R. Benjamin, CSS Vice President of Health Initiatives. “Providing continuous coverage to children up to age six is exactly what we need to protect children and their families from the health and financial risks of being uninsured. CSS commends Assemblymember Gonzalez-Rojas and State Senator Brouk for their incredible leadership in ensuring that A8146/S7747 was included in the state’s fiscal year 2025 budget. We now urge the federal government to approve the 1115 waiver, so we can fully enact this important piece of legislation.”

“Healthcare is a universal right. In our pursuit of it, we celebrate the inclusion of A8146, extending vital public health insurance coverage to our youngest residents. As we strive for equitable access to life-saving Healthcare, join us in calling on the Federal Government to approve this waiver. Every day, we reaffirm our commitment to expanding Healthcare access, ensuring a healthier future for New Yorkers,” said Council Member Shekar Krishnan.