NYS Area Health Education Center System Urges State Funding in Governor Hochul’s 30-Day Budget Amendments for SFY 2023
Statement by Leishia Smallwood, MPA, Director NYS AHEC System
“Governor Kathy Hochul has rightly prioritized the serious healthcare workforce shortages by including significant investments in her SFY 2022-23 Executive Budget. Yet despite the critical role we play in communities across New York State, and the fact that the State Department of Health recognized the NYS Area Health Education Center System (NYS AHEC) as a crucial partner to address and overcome healthcare workforce challenges, continued state funding for the NYS AHEC was not included. We strongly urge Governor Hochul to reconsider and include NYS AHEC’s $2.2 million in state funding in her 30 day budget amendments.”
“NYS AHEC provides community-based healthcare workforce recruitment and training in every region of the State, partnering with numerous state and local organizations who rely on our programming. At a November 2021 State Assembly hearing, the State Department of Health recognized NYS AHEC as a crucial partner to address and overcome healthcare workforce challenges and bring our healthcare system out of crisis.”
“We also have strong state and federal support including from US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand who has championed additional funding for our programs. However, the federal funds for NYS AHEC require an at least 1:1 match of state dollars, making it all the more important for Governor Hochul to include this essential support in her budget.”
“The work of NYS AHEC is needed now more than ever to help the state recover from the healthcare crisis that has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the healthcare workforce shortages, serious health disparities, and ongoing opioid epidemic which preceded it but have been exacerbated.”
“Governor Hochul, please reconsider this omission and ensure that the NYS AHEC System is part of your comprehensive strategy to address the health workforce challenges in NYS, as previously recognized by the State Health Department, by including our $2.2 million in funding in your budget.”
