SULLIVAN - According to a new report by the Office of the New York State Comptroller, Sullivan County is designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area. The report examined 16 rural counties in the state, looking at challenges facing healthcare systems, and found that Sullivan County has the largest number of people underserved (federally designated as 25,650 Medicaid-eligible people).

“The ability to access healthcare is an essential quality of life issue,” State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said in a statement. “Without access, rural New Yorkers may have worse health outcomes and have difficulty attracting people to live in these regions of the state that have so much to offer.”

On average, the 16 rural counties studied have four primary care physicians per 10,000 people. Sullivan is among the lowest, with only 2.5 primary care physicians per 10,000 people.

The study also looked at other areas of healthcare, including mental health, dental, pediatric and obstetrician and gynecologist (OBGYN) care.

The report highlighted the impacts of Medicaid enrollment on healthcare systems, especially a shortage of dentists that accept Medicaid. Sullivan County has 35.2 percent of the population enrolled in Medicaid, the highest in the region.

“Reductions in eligibility for Medicaid and the Essential Plan made in the recently enacted federal [law] may further exacerbate the issue, potentially forcing some rural hospitals to close,” the report finds.

The Comptroller highlighted ways to overcome barriers to healthcare access, including expanding transportation and telemedicine, adding school-based health centers and attracting more healthcare professionals.

We will continue to follow this story. Reach out to us at editor@sc-democrat.com.

Response from New York Assemblymember Paula Kay

A new report from State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli paints a deeply troubling picture of health care in rural New York, and Assembly Member Paula Elaine Kay (D-Rock Hill) says it confirms what residents of Sullivan County have known for far too long.

The report, which surveyed 16 rural counties including Sullivan, found stark shortfalls in access to primary care, OB-GYN, pediatric, dental, and mental health providers. Across the board, these rural counties lag significantly behind state and national averages for provider availability.

“It is absolutely unacceptable that in 2025, entire regions of our state—including the west end of Sullivan County—have no pediatricians at all,” said Assembly Member Kay. “We are talking about babies and children growing up without access to basic, essential care. That is a failure.”

Assembly Member Kay, who recently supported and sponsored legislation expanding insurance coverage for prenatal vitamins (A.2675), no-cost inhalers (A.128A), and speech therapy (A.7321A), said the report reinforces the urgent need for targeted investment in rural health care infrastructure.

“We've made strides in expanding coverage, but coverage means little without providers,” she said. “If you’re a parent in western Sullivan County, you can’t get a well visit for your child if there’s no one to see.”

Kay has also advocated for stronger mental health services across the region. Her legislative portfolio includes the Lieutenant Joseph Banish Mental Health Act (A.6721A), which supports peer-to-peer mental health counseling among police, as well as measures that would offer similar support to corrections officers, fire, and EMS first responders.

“We know rural health care is in crisis, and this report confirms that reality with hard numbers. As legislators, we have an obligation to seek out solutions and act on them.”