Press Release
CSS Applauds Gov. Cuomo, State Sen. Rivera and Assembly Member Gottfried for Their First-in-the-Nation Efforts to Protect Undocumented Immigrants during COVID-19 Outbreak
New York has the fourth-largest immigrant population of any state. This population includes a large number of immigrants without legal status, largely concentrated in the metropolitan New York City region, the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis.
NYS Medicaid coverage for these immigrants is limited to emergency medical conditions such as labor or delivery for pregnant women who do not have health insurance and who meet Medicaid income limits. However, COVID-19 screening and treatment (such as lab tests and outpatient care) would not typically qualify as emergency treatment. When our hospital system is being stressed to its limits, and focused on treating very advanced cases, we should do all we can to make it easier for New Yorkers to access sufficient screening or nonhospital treatment.
To that end, we applaud Governor Andrew Cuomo, State Senator Gustavo Rivera and State Assembly Member Richard Gottfried for taking action to protect immigrant New Yorkers - especially low-income undocumented immigrants – during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last weekend, at the request of Senator Rivera, Chair of the Senate Health Committee, and Assemblyman Gottfried, Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, the Governor used his executive authority to extend Emergency Medicaid coverage for COVID-19 testing and treatment. This first-in-the nation action to extend the Emergency Medicaid program to treat COVID-19 testing, screening and outpatient care ensures that immigration status will not be a barrier to stemming the pandemic.
We thank Gov. Cuomo and legislators Gottfried and Rivera for their leadership and their efforts to make New York’s health care system more responsive to the needs of the state’s most vulnerable and marginalized communities.
###
The Community Service Society of New York (CSS) is an informed, independent, and unwavering voice for positive action on behalf of more than three million low-income New Yorkers. CSS draws on a 175-year history of excellence in addressing the root causes of economic disparity. We respond to urgent, contemporary challenges through applied research, advocacy, litigation, and innovative program models that strengthen and benefit all New Yorkers.