Governor Kathy Hochul today unveiled transformative investments in seven hospitals and health care partnerships across New York. The preliminary approval is part of the Healthcare Safety Net Transformation Program, and includes an up to $188 million investment in Jamaica Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering to establish a “Comprehensive Cancer Care Center of Queens.” It also commits support for a partnership between St. Barnabas Hospital, Cityblock Health and Union Community Health Center, and to upgrade St. Barnabas’ Emergency Department. Today’s announcement follows the significant steps of Governor Hochul to improve the health of New Yorkers. Established in the FY25 Enacted Budget, the Healthcare Safety Net Transformation Program incentivizes partnership between safety net hospitals and health care organizations. Through this program, New York is encouraging partnerships that improve the resilience of safety-net institutions by providing strategic capital and operating support, in addition to required regulatory flexibility.
“The strength of our hospitals is a reflection of the strength of our communities, and safety net hospitals play a critical role in providing quality health care to vulnerable populations,” Governor Hochul said. “Every person should have access to affordable, reliable health care regardless of the zip code they live in, and these investments will bring vital resources to underserved New Yorkers.”
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James V. McDonald said, “I visited nearly all these facilities, including St. Barnabas Hospital, the first hospital I visited as Health Commissioner, and I have seen firsthand the need for these partnerships. Safety net hospitals promote health equity and provide essential services to vulnerable communities. I thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to improving the health of all New Yorkers.”
The Department of Health will work with these applicants to refine the operating and capital needs to effectuate their proposed transformation plans.
The preliminarily approved projects include:
Jamaica Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- This partnership between the Jamaica Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) will establish a “Comprehensive Cancer Program of Queens,” including a new Radiation and Infusion Therapy Campus at The Jamaica Hospital.
- This clinical partnership will help Jamaica Hospital provide comprehensive cancer care in Queens and refer identified patients to Memorial Sloan Kettering for advanced therapy or clinical trials.
- The State will provide up to $188 million in capital funding to support this project.
Glens Falls Hospital and Albany Med Health System
- Glens Falls Hospital, in continued partnership with Albany Med Health System, will modernize the Glens Falls emergency department to improve care delivery and prepare for anticipated growth in emergency department utilization in the next 10-15 years.
- Glens Falls will work with community-based organizations to ensure patients discharged from the emergency department are connected to appropriate resources, including the integration of social workers into the discharge process.
- The project will include integration of Glens Falls Hospital into the Albany Med electronic medical record system and advanced stroke care for Glens Falls patients.
Bertrand Chaffee Hospital, Brooks Hospital, Olean General Hospital and Kaleida Health
- In June 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul announced an agreement with Kaleida Health and Brooks-TLC Health Systems to build a new hospital in the Village of Fredonia in Chautauqua County, replacing the Brooks-TLC in the City of Dunkirk.
- In an expansion to this initial announcement, Kaleida Health will formalize partnerships with two additional rural hospitals in Western New York (Olean General Hospital and Bertrand Chaffee Hospital), and make critical infrastructure upgrades in these rural hospitals.
- Kaleida Health will modernize its electronic medical record system for its entire system to enable greater efficiency and improved continuity of care throughout Western New York.
St. Barnabas Hospital, Cityblock Health and Union Community Health Center
- Through a partnership with Cityblock Health and Union Community Health Center, St. Barnabas Hospital will improve health outcomes and reduce unnecessary admissions and readmissions, while also helping provide the Bronx Community with greater access to local behavioral health services.
- Plans include launching a value-based partnership to manage the complex health needs of approximately 35,000 Healthfirst members — 50 percent of whom have behavioral health needs.
- This project will include an upgrade to St. Barnabas’ emergency department, which currently sees 75,000 ED visits each year in a space designed to accommodate only 55,000 visits annually.
Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital and Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center d/b/a Westchester Community Health Center
- Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital will partner with Westchester Community Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), to strengthen the hospital’s Maternal Child Health program and improve the quality of maternal health care in Westchester.
- Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital will modernize its maternity and postpartum unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to better serve its maternity patients. Its current unit is an outdated and inefficient space that has not been renovated in over 25 years.
University of Vermont (UVM) Health Network, UVM Alice Hyde Medical Center and UVM Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital
- To improve the quality of and access to behavioral health care and reduce emergency department use in the North Country, UVM Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital will partner with Champlain Valley Family Center for Drug Treatment and Youth Services.
- The project also seeks to streamline and strengthen the financial sustainability of the UVM Alice Hyde Medical Center.
Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Otsego County Ambulance Services and Noble Health Services
- Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital will establish two distinct partnerships — one with an ambulance service and one with a specialty pharmacy.
- Through a partnership with Otsego County Ambulance Service, Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital will increase the availability of emergency transportation and upgrade communication infrastructure to improve efficiency across the whole Bassett Health Network.
- Through a partnership with the national specialty pharmacy Noble Health Services, Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital will expand and modernize Bassett's pharmacy operations to improve and expedite pharmacological interventions for patients.
The Healthcare Safety Net Transformation Program application process is rolling. Applications will continue to be reviewed and approved on an ongoing basis. In its first year, the program experienced demand that far exceeded the available funding. As announced in her 2025 State of the State, to meet this demand, Governor Hochul will allocate additional resources to the program in FY26. This commitment will further support worthy applications and foster more partnerships to stabilize and strengthen New York’s safety-net hospitals for the future.
Representative Gregory Meeks said, “The funding for a Cancer Center at Jamaica Hospital is a transformative investment in the Queens community. This generous support enables healthcare providers to use the latest technologies and advanced treatments in caring for cancer patients. Jamaica Hospital is essential to our community, which is why I advocated and secured more than $4.3 million in federal funding to help the facility acquire additional necessary medical equipment. Ongoing investment in our healthcare system not only saves lives but also strengthens preventive care contributing to the overall wellbeing of our residents.”
State Senator Leroy Comrie said, “Governor Hochul's investment in New York’s healthcare system demonstrates a steadfast commitment to equity and innovation. The creation of the Comprehensive Cancer Care Center of Queens, in partnership with Jamaica Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering, ensures that Queens residents will have access to cutting-edge cancer care close to home. By strengthening safety-net hospitals across the state, this initiative not only enhances healthcare delivery but also reinforces our shared mission to build a healthier, more resilient New York for all.”
New York City Council Member Lynn Schulman said, “Healthcare is a human right and today’s significant investment, by Governor Hochul, in safety net hospitals and healthcare organizations makes this more of a reality. This funding will enhance world class medical and Cancer Care for the borough of Queens.”