Senator Chuck Schumer warned Friday that a lapse in funding for rural hospitals could “flat-line” care in areas like Fulton County.

“If they couldn’t do this, you can say it is life and death,” Sen. Schumer said, speaking to staff outside Nathan Littauer Hospital.

Schumer says the facility stands to lose an estimated $1.2 million in funding, unless Congress renews two Medicare payment programs that expired in September, the Low-Volume Hospital and Medicare-Dependent Hospital Programs.

“It would mean job loss and even more importantly, it would mean lower quality health care,” said Sen. Schumer.

Schumer estimates between 40 and 50 hospitals benefit from these programs in New York State. Laurence Kelly, president and CEO of Nathan Littauer, says federal funding is vital for rural facilities like theirs.  

“This program provides additional reimbursement to hospitals like us to maintain our ability to exist,” said Kelly.

Schumer’s comments come a day after President Donald Trump announced plans to end Affordable Care Act subsidies for insurers helping millions of low-income Americans pay for healthcare.

“We’re taking a little different route than we had hoped because Congress, they forgot what their pledges were,” President Trump said at an event Friday morning.

Schumer said he believes the president is “sabotaging” the healthcare system.

“Because he is angry that Congress didn’t do what he wanted. You don’t take it, fight with us, but don’t take it out on average folks,” said Schumer.

Schumer says he is willing to work with Republicans to fix the ACA.

As far as renewing funding for rural hospitals, the Senate minority leader says he expects Congress to discuss restoring the programs during budget talks in December.

“If we don’t renew them or let them stay out for a long time, the hospitals are out of money and we have big, big trouble,” said Sen. Schumer.