Senator Ryan Advances Healthcare Wins for the Region in the Senate Budget Proposal

Christopher J. Ryan

March 20, 2025

Senate One-House Budget Proposal includes full $450 million funding for SUNY Upstate

Sen. Christopher J. Ryan last week voted for a Senate budget proposal that includes major healthcare victories for Central New York. These investments will provide critical support for hospitals, increase healthcare access, and bolster essential services for communities in need.
 
“The Senate’s one-house budget makes historic commitments to improving healthcare infrastructure and expanding access to care. I’m particularly proud that my call for full funding for SUNY Upstate was met. By including an additional $250 million for a total of $450 million, we’re demonstrating the importance of this funding for key repairs and emergency room renovations,” said Sen. Ryan. “As budget negotiations continue to unfold, I will continue fighting to ensure that this funding is included in the final State Budget and that Central New York’s hospitals and medical providers have the resources they need to serve our communities effectively.”
 
Revitalizing SUNY Upstate Hospital: The Senate proposal allocates an additional $250 million to support the revitalization of SUNY Upstate Hospital, bringing the total investment to $450 million. This funding will be instrumental in developing a new, state-of-the-art emergency department, which has been the subject of significant debate but is widely recognized as a critical investment in the region’s healthcare infrastructure. Sen. Ryan has underscored the importance of this funding in ensuring that Upstate New York has access to modern, high-quality emergency care services. The investment is particularly crucial given the hospital's role as the area's only Level 1 trauma center, serving some of the most vulnerable patients in the state. In addition to the emergency department expansion, the funds will also be used for facility upgrades, staffing enhancements, and the acquisition of cutting-edge medical equipment to improve patient care and operational efficiency. This investment represents a crucial step in addressing the growing demand for emergency and specialized medical services in the region.
 
Dr. Mantosh Dewan, president of Upstate Medical University said, “Upstate is grateful to Senator Ryan and our entire Central New York Legislative Delegation for including Upstate in their one house budget proposals and that each recognizes the importance of Upstate University Hospital’s critical infrastructure needs as they pertain to an expanded emergency department.  This urgent funding provides a vital step forward in making overdue improvements to Upstate’s critical life-saving services that will benefit families across the region.” 
 
Additional Key Healthcare Investments in the Senate Budget Proposal:
 
Supporting Financially Distressed Hospitals (FDH): The Senate restores $500 million in critical operating funds for financially distressed hospitals, bringing the total funding to $1.5 billion to ensure these vital institutions can continue providing care.
 
Expanding Healthcare Access: This proposal aims to improve healthcare  access, particularly in rural regions, by:
  • increasing funding for the Doctors Across NY (DANY) program by $10 million, bringing total support to $25.8 million. This expansion ensures that dentists are included in the program, broadening access to essential medical and dental care across the region.
  • Including language to repeal the Managed Long-Term Care Enrollment Cap in certain regions of the state, to help address the disparities in rural, upstate communities where it's harder to access long-term care services. 
 
Strengthening Medicaid and Essential Services: The Senate proposal includes major investments in key healthcare services, including:
  • $355 million for hospital investments
  • $300 million for the Safety-Net Transformation program
  • $50 million for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Non-FQHCs
  • $10 million for Emergency Medical Service providers
 
Supporting Nursing Homes and Senior Care: This resolution invests in nursing home and elder care to support quality care through every stage of life, including: 
  • Invests $245 million for Nursing Homes, and Hospice Investments
  • Adds $200 million to support Capital grants for healthcare facilities, including nursing homes, and hospitals.
  • Reduces nursing home and hospital capital rate cuts by 10%.
  • Includes $1 million for the Managed Care Consumer Assistance Program (MCCAP) to assist individuals with Medicare enrollment, for a total of $2.7 million. 
 
By championing a budget that prioritizes healthcare, the Sen. Ryan and the Senate Democrats have crafted a budget that helps CNY hospitals and providers to give our community the care they deserve. 

 
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