Community Health Care Association of New York State Announces Judith Watson as New Board Chair

Albany, NY - The Community Health Care Association of New York State(CHCANYS) today announced that Judith Watson, CEO of Westchester Community Health Center, has been elected Chair of the CHCANYS Board of Directors. Watson will help guide CHCANYS as we continue our work to strengthen and expand Community Health Centers (CHCs), which serve more than 2.5 million New Yorkers at more than 850 sites across the state.

Watson succeeds Joey Marie Horton, CEO at North Country Family Health Center, and will work closely with the CHCANYS Board and leadership to advance policies and investments that support community-based primary care.

Watson brings decades of experience in community health and health care leadership to the role. As CEO of Westchester Community Health Center, she leads an organization dedicated to providing high-quality, comprehensive care to patients regardless of insurance status, income, or background.

"Community Health Centers are a cornerstone of New York's health care system, ensuring that everyone, regardless of who they are or where they live, has access to high-quality, affordable care," said Judith Watson, CEO of Westchester Community Health Center and Chair of the CHCANYS Board of Directors. "I'm honored to serve as Board Chair at this pivotal moment. Health centers are facing rising costs, growing demand for services, and workforce challenges, yet they continue to deliver exceptional care in communities across the state. I look forward to working with CHCANYS and our partners to strengthen the health center network and ensure it has the resources it needs to survive and thrive."

Watson takes this role at a critical time for New York's Community Health Centers. CHCs are currently advocating for a $300 million investment in the state budgetto help stabilize and strengthen CHCs at a time when rising costs and changes at the federal level are fueling a growing financial crisis. The funding would help address rising operating costs, workforce shortages, and increased demand for care while ensuring health centers can continue serving patients in every corner of the state.

"Judith is a respected leader in New York's health center community and a powerful advocate for expanding access to care," said Rose Duhan, CHCANYS President and CEO. "Her leadership comes at an important moment, as Community Health Centers are caring for more patients than ever while navigating rising costs and workforce challenges. With Judith as Board Chair, we will continue pushing forward to secure the investments and policy changes needed to ensure health centers can meet the needs of the 1-in-8 New Yorkers who rely on them."

Community Health Centers provide comprehensive services including primary care, behavioral health, dental care, and pharmacy services in medically underserved communities. They play a vital role in improving health outcomes, reducing health disparities, and lowering overall health care costs.

CHCs are economic engines, but have been dramatically underfundedfor decades. Medicaid is their single largest source of income, representing 42% of total CHC revenue. Yet New York's outdated Medicaid reimbursement system, unique to CHCs, pays rates based on costs from a quarter of a century ago, putting CHCs at a disadvantage as they deal with rising costs, workforce shortages, and growing demand.

CHCANYS' Legislative Agendabriefing book provides additional information about CHCs, who they serve, how they contribute to their communities, and what support they need to survive and thrive. Our Stateand NYCfact sheets provide a breakdown of the types of care CHCs provide and how they are funded.

About Community Health Center Association of New York State. CHCANYS is the voice of nearly 80 Community Health Centers, also known as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), serving patients at almost 900 sites across every region of New York State, providing care to more than 2.5 million people each year. Our members are on the front lines of community health care, providing primary and preventive care, including medical, dental, behavioral health, vision, and substance use disorder services to high need patients in medically underserved areas.