Governor Kathy Hochul visited Westchester Medical Center (WMC) today to announce a major state investment of up to $100 million through the Department of Health’s Safety Net Transformation Program — funding that will directly benefit hospitals relied upon by Rockland County residents and communities across the Hudson Valley.

The funding will support the integration of the Bon Secours Charity Health System—which operates Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, St. Anthony Community Hospital in Warwick, and Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis—as well as the Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley into the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth). Together, these hospitals serve tens of thousands of Rockland families who depend on them for emergency, maternity, pediatric, and specialty care.

Governor Hochul, joined by Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, toured WMC’s Heroes Wing and CT Scan unit, presenting the award to Dr. David Lubarsky, President and CEO of WMCHealth. The Governor emphasized that while federal policies threaten to slash hospital funding, New York is stepping up to strengthen and modernize its health care infrastructure.

“Our 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 and health care heroes like those we met today at Westchester Medical Center,” said Governor Hochul. “While Republicans in Washington slash funds for hospitals and threaten access to care, New York is making long-term investments in the critical health services that all New Yorkers depend on.”

Strengthening Care for Rockland and the Hudson Valley

The Safety Net Transformation funding will allow WMCHealth to:

• Expand preventive and life-saving care closer to home for Rockland and Hudson Valley families.
• Unify its electronic medical record system for improved coordination between hospitals, including Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, a key regional hub for Rockland County.
• Enhance access to behavioral health, maternal, pediatric, and ambulatory services.

Dr. Lubarsky said the investment “is about ensuring that all patients and families in the Hudson Valley—including Rockland County—have access to the high-quality care they deserve.” He noted that the funding will accelerate modernization, improve technology, and strengthen community hospitals across the region.

Leaders Praise Investment in Local Health Care

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald praised WMC for its role in “keeping families across the Hudson Valley healthy,” while Westchester County Health Care Corporation Board Chair Zubeen Shroff said the funding reaffirms a “shared commitment to care for every person in every community we serve.”

Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Senators Shelley Mayer and Pete Harckham, and Assemblymembers Amy Paulin, Steve Otis, Chris Burdick, and MaryJane Shimsky also commended Governor Hochul’s leadership in fortifying New York’s health system amid looming federal cuts.

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins added, “WMC is a lifeline for so many residents in our County and the surrounding areas, including Rockland. Unifying their systems will enhance access to behavioral health, maternal, pediatric, and ambulatory services.”
Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger noted that the program reflects Hochul’s “strong commitment to expanding health care access across our region.”

About the Health Care Safety Net Transformation Program

Established in the FY 2025 Enacted Budget, the Safety Net Transformation Program provides capital support and regulatory flexibility to help hospitals form partnerships and improve long-term sustainability. Earlier this year, the Governor announced more than $2.6 billion in new partnerships through the program, reinforcing her administration’s historic investments in health care and Medicaid rate increases.

About Westchester Medical Center and the Bon Secours Charity Health System

Westchester Medical Center serves one in three Medicaid members in the Hudson Valley and operates the region’s only Level 1 trauma center.
The Bon Secours Charity Health System, part of WMCHealth, includes Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, a major facility serving Rockland County residents, as well as St. Anthony Community Hospital and Bon Secours Community Hospital.
Together with the Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley, these hospitals form a regional network dedicated to ensuring high-quality, equitable care for all.