🔴 LIVE: Examining NYC Health and Hospitals' Programs and Care for Uninsured New Yorkers

The New York City Council Committee on Hospitals held an oversight hearing on October 29, 2026, examining NYC Care and access to healthcare for uninsured New Yorkers. NYC Health + Hospitals reported approximately 125,766 NYC Care members and described enrollment, clinical access, outreach through 20 community-based organizations (CBOs), and preparations for expected coverage disruptions stemming from federal Medicaid and Essential Plan changes. Officials said NYC Care’s annual budget is $100 million, unchanged for several years, and that they are in communication with the Office of Management and Budget about program costs and resource needs. They estimated the system could absorb roughly 15,000–20,000 additional primary-care patients with current capacity, while preparing to expand staffing, financial counseling, and outreach. No contract awards, solicitations, vendor selections, or procurement votes were identified.

Public witnesses urged additional investment in the healthcare safety net. The Community Healthcare Association of New York State asked the Council to accelerate implementation of Local Law/Intro 1668-A to include federally qualified health centers in NYC Care and dedicate resources to affordable, coordinated care; Make the Road New York requested a $100 million annual investment to expand NYC Care and fund CBO outreach, education, and enrollment. These were recommendations, not adopted spending actions. The hearing also addressed H+H’s proposed absorption of Maimonides Medical Center, with a council member raising concerns about financial assumptions tied to Medicaid reimbursement; H+H agreed to provide further information in writing. No procurement activity was identified.