Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) in New York will receive up to $100 million from the state to support its merger with Bon Secours Charity Health System and HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley.  

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the investment on Friday, October 23, 2025, with a visit to Westchester Medical Center. 

This announcement is part of New York’s $2.6 million Health Care Safety Net Transformation Program that aims to improve the quality of care at safety net hospitals and stabilize operations for long-term sustainability.  

In the wake of proposed health care cuts in the Trump administration’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” Hochul promised to protect health care access for New Yorkers. According to Hochul, this bill will result in about 31,388 residents of western New York losing their health care coverage and increasing health care costs by 33 percent for the average couple who purchases Marketplace insurance with tax credits. 

In a statement Friday, Hochul said her goal is to “make New York a place where people live longer, happier and healthier lives,” and that starts by investing in the hospital systems. 

“While Republicans in Washington slash funds for hospitals across the country, reduce access to lifesaving services and threaten to raise insurance premiums, here in New York we are making long-term investments in the critical care all New Yorkers depend on,” she said.  

As a safety net hospital, Westchester Medical Center serves all patients, regardless of their insurance or ability to pay. According to Hochul’s office, it serves one in three Medicaid members in the Hudson Valley and holds the only Level 1 trauma center in the region.  

Westchester Medical Center Health Network President and CEO Dr. David Lubarsky said this investment is about ensuring that all patients and families in the Hudson Valley have access to the high-quality care they deserve “today and for generations to come.” 

“This transformational support will allow us to accelerate our integration efforts through technology and process, from vital information systems upgrades to critical support for our community hospitals, as we continue to modernize and expand care across the region,” he said in a statement. “We are profoundly grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Department of Health for their partnership and confidence in our mission.” 

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said the expansion of Westchester Medical Center’s service capacity means more patients can receive preventive and lifesaving care close to home. In a statement, he said unifying their electronic medical record system will “greatly enhance” access to behavioral health, maternal, pediatric and ambulatory care services. 

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said WMCHealth plays an important role in keeping families across the region healthy.  

“This funding helps make sure every New Yorker can get the care they need, close to home,” he said in a statement. “It’s about supporting our hospitals so they can keep serving their communities for years to come.” 

State Senator Pete Harckham said many New York residents face immense challenges when it comes to receiving proper health care and preventative care.  

“Recognizing that our state government and local health care partners can work together to achieve better, more efficient health services for everyone, Governor Hochul and the State Legislature made a major investment in the Health Care Safety Net Transformation Program,” he said in a statement. 

New York State Assemblymember Steve Otis, who represents New York’s 91st district in Westchester County, said the targeting funding from Hochul and the state legislature “brings a tremendous boost to the coordination needed for regional networks to succeed.” 

“At a time when the federal government is placing everyone’s health care at risk, New York State is fortifying our health care system in the Hudson Valley region,” he said in a statement. “With programs like the Health Care Safety Net Transformation Program, Governor Hochul and the NYS Department of Health are providing a framework to respond to the federal cuts that will harm all New Yorkers.” 

Newsweek reached out to Governor Hochul’s office and Westchester Medical Center Health Network for comment.

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