Health Care

Health care is a human right, and it’s time for New York State to guarantee high-quality care to all New Yorkers regardless of employment, income, race, or immigration status. As Assemblywoman, Grace will vote for the New York Health Act to create statewide universal health care and end the employer-based coverage system that the coronavirus pandemic has made clear is unjust and unsustainable.  

Despite fighting a pandemic, New York has proceeded to cut Medicaid funding dramatically. This is unconscionable and must be reversed. Additionally, Grace believes a medical emergency shouldn’t mean financial hardship. She’ll support a health care debt relief fund to ensure no one faces bankruptcy just for receiving needed care. 

New York’s healthcare workers need more support. The coronavirus pandemic pushed our healthcare workers to their limits, and these essential workers on the front lines deserve more. Grace will fight to get doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and first responders additional hazard pay for their heroic efforts over the past two years. We also need to build robust talent pipelines and encourage people from diverse and marginalized backgrounds to enter the health field through intentional recruitment, scholarships, and debt forgiveness programs.

Homecare workers are healthcare workers too. For too long, a mostly minority and immigrant workforce has been burdened by unfair working conditions, being overworked and under-compensated. Grace will fight to end 24-hour shifts and ensure economic justice by establishing backpay for homecare workers who have experienced wage theft.

Grace is proudly endorsed by 1199 SEIU and the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA).