Local impact of potential federal health cuts

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Along with slashing the workforce at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Trump administration intends to cut more than $300 million in funding for New York State. That includes $40 million in cuts for programs for addiction services and nearly $30 million in cuts to mental health services statewide.

On a local level, the cuts will also mean an early end to COVID-era funds. Some of that money was intended for places like the Department of Health, Office of Addiction Services and Supports, and the Office of Mental Health. It was also distributed out to county health departments.

NEWS10 spoke with a representative from Albany County. Their health department received roughly $547,000 in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which was to help during the pandemic. Of that money, $370,000 is still in the planning and execution phase for three separate programs. The county said that money was already earmarked in the federal system.

NEWS10 also reached out to Saratoga and Warren Counties. They both said they are aware of the potential cuts from COVID-era funds earlier than expected, and they are still waiting for more information from the state.

Gov. Kathy Hochul released the following statement after the announcement from Washington: "At a time when New York is facing an ongoing opioid epidemic, multiple confirmed cases of measles and an ongoing mental health crisis, these cuts will be devastating."

Top healthcare officials around the country said the cuts will impact care and prevention efforts for local health departments.

"These smaller health departments, they don't have many staff," Director and Health Authority for the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department Philip Huang said. "You make a small cut and that takes away a considerable percentage of their workforce and ability to respond to anything at all. So the impact on the rural, local areas are really catastrophic."

Some of the community organizations in Albany County that may be impacted by COVID-related cuts include:

• Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Bring on the Spectrum, Inc.
• Black Nurses Coalition, Inc.
• Capital District Recovery Center
• Community Caregivers, Inc.