FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 16, 2025
CONTACT: Allison Manuel | 917-213-6028 | allison@northwestbronx.org
Bronx Healthcare Town Hall Calls for Urgent Legislative Session to Pass the New York Health Act
Amid Devastating Federal Cuts, Lawmakers, Union, and Community Leaders Demand State Action
THE BRONX (September 15, 2025) — On Saturday evening, more than 70 Bronx residents, healthcare workers, union members and advocates joined New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia at Bronx Bethany Church for a powerful town hall focused on defending healthcare access in the face of catastrophic federal cuts.
As chair of the Senate Health Committee, Senator Rivera called on New York legislators to take immediate action by passing the New York Health Act (NYHA)—state legislation that would guarantee comprehensive, universal healthcare coverage for all New Yorkers.
“Today more than ever, New Yorkers are struggling to access healthcare and to afford the high costs of health insurance and out of pocket costs,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. “The New York Health Act is a common-sense solution that would guarantee healthcare for all New Yorkers, regardless of age, wealth, or immigration status. It would also protect our state from the ravages of Republican action in DC. We urgently need to pass this legislation to safeguard healthcare from the federal administration's Medicaid cuts and their draconian coverage eligibility changes that will go into effect over the next few years.”
This urgent call comes in response to a sweeping federal domestic policy bill signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4th, which includes over $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts alongside massive tax breaks for the wealthy. Insurance premiums are also projected to rise nearly 18% in 2026, doubling last year’s increase.
With nearly two-thirds of Bronx residents relying on Medicaid, the borough is expected to be among the hardest hit in the state. Over 100,000 residents could lose coverage through Medicaid and the Essential Plan, eliminating access to life-saving and life-sustaining care.
“In the face of unprecedented cuts to our healthcare system, New York has the power to act—and to be a model for the way forward for the rest of the nation,” said Sandra Lobo, Executive Director of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition. “The Bronx has long been disproportionately impacted by disinvestment and health inequities—and we have also been leaders in advancing innovative solutions to address the social determinants of health and create holistic wellness. The New York Health Act will not only save our state billions of dollars, it will save hospitals, jobs, and lives. The Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition is proud to stand with our legislative champions, and urge their colleagues to join us in calling for a special legislative session to pass the New York Health Act.”
Panelists underscored the financial and human cost of inaction. They noted that the NYHA could save New York State $16 billion annually, prevent hospital closures, protect healthcare jobs, and eliminate the influence of for-profit insurance companies in patient care.
“Insurance company profits are killing Bronx residents—it has become impossible to get affordable, compassionate healthcare when we need it,” said Betty Kolod, MD, MPH, Chair of Physicians for a National Health Program-NY Metro. “With the Federal healthcare cuts, many Bronx residents will lose coverage as soon as January, kids and elders will get kicked off of Medicaid, and mass layoffs of people who work in hospitals could destroy the Bronx economy. The New York Health Act would defend our healthcare system against these rollbacks. Instead of facing a $15 billion hole in the state budget from federal healthcare cuts, under the New York Health Act, we would spend $16 billion less than we are currently spending and every person in New York State would be guaranteed excellent healthcare. Our message to Governor Kathy Hochul: the Bronx calls on you to hold a special session of the legislature to pass the New York Health Act and defeat deadly healthcare cuts. The math is simple: we have enough money for healthcare for all if we stop paying for insurance profits.”
The NYHA would create a single-payer healthcare system for New York State, covering medical, dental, vision, hearing, mental healthcare, prescriptions and long-term care for all residents—regardless of employment, income, or immigration status. The bill also eliminates premiums, copays, deductibles, prior authorizations, surprise bills and medical debt.
The town hall was co-sponsored by a broad coalition of health, faith, labor and community organizations including: Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC), Physicians for a National Health Program - NY Metro (PNHP NY Metro), Campaign for New York Health, NAACP Williamsbridge Branch, Northwest Bronx Indivisible, New York Progressive Action Network, New York City Democratic Socialists of America, Bronx United Progressives, and New York National Association of Social Workers. Event sponsors stressed that in the face of unprecedented challenges to New York’s healthcare system, now is the time for bold action to put universal coverage and patient care over corporate profit.
“Christ Church Riverdale, an affiliate member of Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, is part of the Episcopal Church, a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion who in 2009 urged the passage of a federal ‘single payer’ universal healthcare program and advocated for the pursuit of short-term incremental and innovative approaches to universal health care as the country works toward the goal of a ‘single payer’ program,” said Reverend Emily Anderson Lukanich, pastor of Christ Church Riverdale. “The New York Health Act is a step toward the goal of a federal ‘single payer’ universal healthcare program.”
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About the NWBCCC: Founded in 1974, the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition is a 5,000+ member-led, grassroots organization that unites diverse peoples and institutions to fight racial justice and economic democracy through intergenerational community organizing to transform the Bronx and beyond. We build power for the Bronx through community organizing, economic development, policy advocacy, leadership development, and support services that foster community ownership of assets, collective governance of institutions, and transforming the systems that impact our lives. To learn more, please visit northwestbronx.org.
