Governor Hochul Unveils New Investment in New Cardiac Catheterization Lab at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln
State Investment Completes Funding for Critical Cardiac Care at One of New York City’s Busiest Emergency Departments
New Cardiac Catheterization Lab Will Expand Access to Lifesaving Heart Care for South Bronx Residents
Aug 10, 2026
Governor Kathy Hochul and Congress Member Ritchie Torres today announced a nearly $10 million state investment to realize the completion of a cardiac catheterization laboratory at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx. This investment is critical to advancing health equity in the South Bronx, an area that has historically suffered from a lack of access to critical cardiac care in a high-risk population. Today’s announcement builds on Governor Hochul’s historic investments in New York’s health care system, including significant capital and operating support for safety net hospitals around the state and the largest Medicaid rate increases in decades.
“All New Yorkers deserve access to the critical, lifesaving care they need, when and where they need it,” said Governor Hochul. “With this investment, we are providing needed cardiac care to residents of the South Bronx, and addressing the health disparities that have plagued this area for far too long.”
Congress Member Ritchie Torres said, “The South Bronx has waited too long for the cardiac care it deserves. Right now, a patient having a heart attack at Lincoln Hospital can be stabilized but not fully treated. They must be transferred to another hospital, and every minute of that delay increases the risk of permanent damage or death. That is not health equity. Today that changes, with a $14 million investment to build a cardiac catheterization lab at the busiest single-site emergency room in New York City, so South Bronx residents get the same standard of care as everyone else in this state. I have fought for this funding since day one, and I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership in closing the final $9 million gap and delivering what this community has needed for years. Her commitment to health equity in underserved communities like the South Bronx is making a real difference in people’s lives.”
Currently, after stroke stabilization, patients must be transferred out of the hospital to receive treatment for stroke or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). These transfers lead to dangerous delays that heighten the risk of permanent disability or mortality. Providing on-site intervention at Lincoln Hospital will break down these barriers and save lives.
With more than 125,000 annual emergency room visits, Lincoln operates the busiest single-site emergency room in New York City and the third busiest in the nation.
The funding provided by the state will complement city and federal commitments, totaling $5 million, to realize the project. The $14 million combined funding will fund the space build-out and the purchase of specialized imaging systems, C-arm angiography equipment, patient monitoring systems, and sterile supplies.
CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln Cristina Contreras said, “This funding is a historic win for Lincoln Hospital and the residents of the South Bronx. Thank you to Governor Kathy Hochul and all of our elected officials on the federal, state and local levels who came together to make this happen. The Catheterization Lab at Lincoln will keep high quality care local, and that really matters when someone is experiencing a heart attack because every second counts.”
State Senator Jose M. Serrano said, “This crucial investment in the completion of a cardiac catheterization laboratory at Lincoln Hospital is critical to advancing health equity in the South Bronx, an area that has historically suffered from a lack of access to critical cardiac care in a high-risk population. Today’s announcement builds on the New York State Senate Delegation’s collective investment to close healthcare gaps to ensure that Bronx residents, from the entire borough and beyond, have equal access to life-saving technology. As the Senator representing the 29th Senate District, including Lincoln Hospital, I have seen firsthand the impact of investments like this one in creating more equitable and accessible healthcare. Many thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul and my colleagues in government for making health equity a shared priority and collective investment in our community.”
State Senator Gustavo Rivera said, “I am thrilled to see $9 million go towards an important safety net institution, Lincoln Hospital, to upgrade its cardiac care infrastructure. I am grateful to Governor Hochul and my colleagues for investing in critical care access for the people of the Bronx and that I was able to contribute thanks to Senator Serrano’s leadership of the Bronx Senate delegation.”
Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz said, “This investment will expand access to critical cardiac care in the South Bronx and help save countless lives. Lincoln Hospital and the Bronx will now be better equipped to treat patients with these complex conditions, ensuring that no one feels overlooked when they need care the most. I thank Governor Hochul for this important investment and for her continued commitment to strengthening New York’s health care system.”
Assemblymember John Zaccaro, Jr. said, “The Governor’s announcement of funding for a new Catheterization Laboratory at Lincoln Hospital is a much-needed investment that will undoubtedly save lives across the Bronx. For too long, Bronx residents suffering from a stroke have had to be transferred outside the borough to receive the specialized care they need, placing an additional burden on patients and their loved ones during an already difficult time. This investment will help ensure that patients can receive critical, lifesaving care right here in the Bronx and recover close to their families and in the borough they call home.”
Assemblymember Chantel Jackson said, “Thank you Governor Hochul for investing in a dire service needed in the Bronx. This is personal to the district and me. The Bronx is home to the highest rates of high blood pressure and diabetes in the state which can lead to strokes. This will hopefully reduce the wait time for care and save lives.”
Assemblymember Emerita Torres said, “Every New Yorker deserves timely access to the lifesaving care they need, regardless of their ZIP code. For too long, Bronx residents experiencing a stroke or heart attack have faced dangerous delays simply because critical cardiac interventions were not available on-site. This $9 million state investment in Lincoln Hospital will help bring that care directly to the South Bronx, strengthening our safety-net health system, advancing health equity, and most importantly, saving lives. By investing in Lincoln’s cardiac catheterization laboratory, we are making sure patients can get the right care, at the right place, at the right time—when every second matters.”
Assemblymember Landon Dais said, “Too many families in the South Bronx are living with the consequences of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and stroke, and when a medical emergency happens, every minute matters. I thank Governor Hochul for this critical investment in Lincoln Hospital and for helping ensure that patients in the Bronx have access to lifesaving care without having to leave their borough.”
Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson said, “Bronx families deserve the peace of mind of knowing that lifesaving care is available when and where they need it most. When someone is experiencing a heart attack or stroke, every minute matters, and our residents should not have to leave The Bronx to receive the care they need to survive. Thank you to Governor Hochul for the $9 million investment in this critical project. Together with the $2 million in capital funding I was proud to allocate in FY 2027 and the support of Congressman Ritchie Torres, we have secured a combined $14 million investment to bring a new Cardiac Catheterization Lab to Lincoln Hospital. This investment will help close a critical gap in care and ensure more patients can receive timely, lifesaving treatment right here at home. Where you live should never determine whether you live, and today we are taking an important step toward delivering the world-class healthcare our Bronx families deserve.”
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