NYSNA Statement on Cuts to HHS Funding

The New York State Nurses Association released this statement:

“NYSNA nurses are deeply concerned about the Department of Health and Human Services’ abrupt termination of the billions of previously anticipated funding to essential services. These immediate cuts will have disastrous effects on New York’s people and economy. These grants were being used to fund infections disease research, mental health services, addiction treatment, and other services that New Yorkers and others across this country rely on. In addition to the proposed $880 billion in Medicaid cuts that loom over the future of healthcare, the swift defunding of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services will undoubtedly put many lives at risk.

In New York state, the cuts will result in the immediate termination of funds used to provide care for those recovering from addiction and those seeking mental healthcare. Hundreds of public health professionals across the state and their patients will be impacted. The services targeted by these cuts will have devastating effects on the future of public health. The disease research being cut has been essential to responding to infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19, measles, Ebola and others, has been used to study chronic diseases, and has been essential to ensuring a healthy future for many New Yorkers.  

As patient advocates, nurses are firmly against the attacks on the public services our communities rely on. We intend to take any and all action to fight against these cuts because the future of public health is at stake. "