Hot97 and partner WBLS advocate for Medicaid equity

Prominent New York radio stations Hot 97 and WBLS are partnering with America’s largest health care union to boost awareness of Medicaid equity issues.

MediaCo Holding, parent company of Hot 97 and WBLS, announced has partnered with 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East to advance health care equity for Medicaid patients and staff.

The announcement followed a radio appearance by 1199SEIU President George Gresham through which he explained the severe underfunding of Medicaid programs, which highlighted payment discrepancies between Medicaid patients and privately insured patients.

Studies show that hospitals covered by New York’s Medicaid program are paid 30% lower than the actual costs of care provided. Hospitals in New York City are struggling more financially than facilities in the remainder of the United States, with 63% of hospitals reporting operating deficits in 2021.

With greater than seven million people protected by Medicaid in New York, the necessity for increased funding is critical. Underpayments proceed to create barriers to medical health insurance for moms, children, families, seniors and individuals with disabilities. There can be a growing multibillion-dollar funding gap that weakens hospitals, nursing homes and health care providers in Black and Latino neighborhoods.

Last month, rappers Jadakiss and Jim Jones joined Hot 97 radio host Funk Flex on the Manhattan East Village rally for Medicaid Equity to advance the conversation.

“As a child growing up on Medicaid, I know how important these hospitals are,” Jones told the group of health care staff, religious leaders, Medicaid patients and community activists. “So we need the government and the governor to put that 30% or so back into Medicaid payments.”

Hot 97 personality TT Torez also joined 199SEIU on the State Capitol for the annual Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus Conference in Albany to advocate for improved resources for hospitals across New York.

“We need to make sure we have resources for our hospitals!” Torez said. “We need to make sure our seniors have the right doctors and medications; we must make sure our children have the resources they need to grow up and be productive members of their classrooms and communities.”