January 14, 2025

Governor Hochul Delivers State of the State Address

Earlier today in her State of the State Address and accompanying Policy Book, Governor Kathy Hochul laid out her priorities for the 2025-26 Executive Budget, including several initiatives intended by the Governor to improve the health of New Yorkers. 

Some of the notable healthcare proposals included introducing legislation to allow the Medicaid program to cover Hospital at Home programs, ensuring access to emergency medical services, addressing social needs to improve health equity and outcomes, and reducing health disparities through value-based payments. 

The State of the State coincides with the start of the 2025 Legislative Session, which formally began last week and is scheduled to run through June 12, 2025.  

Accompanying the address is the State of the State Policy Book, which outlines and explains the Governor’s priorities that we can expect to see translated into legislative initiatives in her Executive Budget, anticipated at the end of this month. HCANYS will provide an in-depth memo following further analysis of the proposals in the State of the State Message, and also upon her release of her plan details reflected in her proposed 2025-26 State Budget to be introduced next week.

HCANYS looks forward to our meeting with the Governor’s office scheduled for tomorrow to also learn more about her proposals, and to discuss and reinforce priorities for the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) sector that we have been discussing for months with her Administration. Our advocacy and data emphasize the urgent needs for support of the HCBS sector and the state and community health care systems dependent upon our sector’s services.

On Thursday, HCANYS is conducting for members a webinar on our newly compiled State of the Industry report to review the findings and to assist members with your advocacy. Please register here.  Additionally, on January 24, HCA is convening a meeting of ALL members on our Government Relations initiative. Please see details HERE and be sure that your agency participates.

In the interim, HCANYS’ Policy Team is meeting regularly with our legislative affairs firm and will meet with key lawmakers and legislative staff to discuss how the proposals will impact home care, hospice and managed long term care services.

Throughout the coming weeks, HCANYS will provide budget updates in the Association’s weekly Situation Report and through HCA Alerts. Members should also look out for and participate in grassroots advocacy campaigns related to specific budget proposals over the coming weeks. As we have stressed over the last year, your voice is extremely important. When you see HCANYS ask you to take action and help advocate for home healthcare and hospice, please do it! We need you.