Every year, Chuck commits to traveling to all62 counties in New York to meet with constituents.
On October 29, 2018, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer stood at the Albany Medical Center Hospital in Albany and called on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reverse course and eliminate dramatic cuts to Upstate New York’s hospitals. Schumer explained that the 340B hospital program is critical, in that it gives hospitals who serve many low-income patients and constantly need to stretch their budgets prescription medicine at a reduced cost, better allowing them to provide care for their patients, as it alleviates some of the pressure on their bottom line. However, Schumer explained, earlier this year, a CMS rule cut the reimbursement 340B hospitals receive by 28.5%. Schumer said that these cuts to the 340B program could force cuts to critical care services such as cancer treatment, addiction treatment and prescription drug access. The program also allows hospitals to provide prescription drugs at reduced prices or free of charge to patients who have difficulty affording them. Therefore, Schumer called on HHS and CMS to reverse course and eliminate cuts to the 340B hospital program, to allow hospitals to best serve the most vulnerable patients and communities.