Assemblymember Shrestha to Host Healthcare Town Halls Across Hudson Valley

New York Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha is continuing her series of healthcare town halls across the Catskills and Hudson Valley regions.

Shrestha, who represents New York’s 103rd Assembly District including Ulster and Dutchess counties, said the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill made devastating healthcare cuts for New Yorkers.

One of the biggest changes is the federal funding loss of New York’s Essential Plan for residents earning between 200 percent to 250 percent of the federal poverty level. Nearly 450,000 New Yorkers are expected to have lost health coverage through the Essential Plan in July.

Shrestha says the town halls have been an important opportunity for residents to share firsthand how the healthcare landscape is changing. She’s already hosted two town halls in KIngston and Rhinecliff earlier this August.

“Many people who came to my two town halls so far and have taken our healthcare survey are reporting paying around $800 a month just in premiums, and these are people making less than 250% of the federal poverty line,” said Shrestha.

She says a larger uninsured population has long-term implications for all New Yorkers.

“Uninsured people tend to skip preventative care and end up in the emergency rooms more. That costs hospitals money. That cost also gets passed on to the rest of us, so generally speaking, it is actually not beneficial to have people lose their insurance,” said Shrestha.

Another big change are new work requirements for New Yorkers on Medicaid. Starting January 1, 2027, some adults ages 19 to 64 will have to show proof that they are working, in school, in job training, or volunteering.

“That’s just more paperwork and requirement that people have to file very frequently, and the healthy people on Medicaid are not gonna bother with this, so they’re also gonna be unintentionally falling off the plan,” said Shrestha.

Registration is required. The town halls are scheduled as follows:

Aug 25, Tuesday, 6 p.m. at the Rosendale Community Center, Rosendale

Aug 27, Thursday, 6 p.m. at the Esopus Town Hall, Ulster Park

Aug 30, Sunday, 2:30 p.m. at the Mescal Hornbeck Community Center, Woodstock

Sept 1, Tuesday, 6 p.m. at the SUNY New Paltz Lecture Center, New Paltz

Sept 3, Thursday, 6 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater, Saugerties

Residents can also complete a healthcare survey from Shrestha’s office to share their experiences and questions.

Image: Assemblymember Shrestha’s healthcare town hall at the Morton Memorial Library in Rhinecliff, New York on August 18, 2026 (Photo Credit: Office of New York State Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha)