Statement from State Senator Gustavo Rivera in Support of Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie's Stance on Possible Medicaid Cost Shift to New York City

"I commend Speaker Heastie for standing firm in preventing the State from shifting Medicaid expeditures to New York City and I urge Governor Cuomo and Majority Leader Flanagan to work together with the Speaker to find a fair resolution for the residents of New York City. Transferring $180 million this fiscal year and increasingly higher amounts in future years in Medicaid expenditures from the State to the City would prove a serious financial challenge that has the potential to adversely affect our City. These proposed shifts are irresponsible and would undoubtedly take away necessary funding from other social programs that were implemented to improve the lives of the most vulnerable New Yorkers."