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Hammond: New York positioned to weather federal health care cuts

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul presents her 2025 executive state budget in the Red Room at the state Capitol Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul presents her 2025 executive state budget in the Red Room at the state Capitol Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)

Many — especially New York state leaders – have been sounding the alarm about crippling consequences coming from Medicaid cuts included in the “Big, Beautiful Bill” that President Trump signed this month. But the Empire Center’s Bill Hammond says New York is better positioned than most states to weather the loss of federal support. In a piece for the right-leaning thinktank, Hammond argues that even with a possible $10 billion worth of Iost revenue and increased expenses as a result of impending changes, New York’s Medicaid program and its Essential Plan – a Medicaid-like program funded through the Affordable Care Act – aren’t set to collapse.

Andrew Waite is WAMC’s news director. His journalism career dates to 2009, when he was a cub reporter for community newspapers in Montana and Alaska. He has since worked as an editor at the inflight magazine for Seattle-based Alaska Airlines and as the featured news columnist for The Daily Gazette in Schenectady. Andrew has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Boston University, an MFA in creative writing from Pacific University and is a proud Albany High School graduate. He's honored to be back home helping to cover news in the Capital Region, where he lives with his wife, daughter and son.