Health care cuts

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

Yesterday, an article in my home-town newspaper 
described the uncertain status of the local 
hospital in light of announced health care cuts:

>>Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC) 
officials are so concerned about Governor Eliot 
Spitzer?s proposed budget, they called a press conference about it Wednesday.

The very life of the Harris and Callicoon 
hospitals might be at stake, they said.

?The Medicaid reductions proposed by the governor 
threaten the existence of this hospital,? Chief 
Financial Officer Nick Lanza told the media. ?The 
proposal reduces revenue by $1.25 million? threatening our turnaround efforts.

?Our facility cannot withstand further cuts.?

Spitzer?s proposed reductions are in addition to 
cuts proposed by President George W. Bush, the 
combined effect of which Assemblywoman Aileen 
Gunther said could cost CRMC $8 million over the next four years.

If that happens, the 29-year nurse added, ?we 
will not have healthcare in Sullivan County.?

?I think it?s very clear we?re on the edge of a 
precipice,? observed Priscilla Bassett, president 
of the Senior Legislative Action Committee 
(SLAC). ?For us seniors, this is the only place 
that has its doors open to everyone.?<<

My mother is one of those seniors that Ms Bassett 
is speaking about. She has been in the Special 
Nursing Unit (the geriatrics ward, basically) for 
about three years. As a Medicaid recipient, she 
is affected by a $1.2 billion cut in health care 
recently announced by the new Governor Elliot 
Spitzer. Despite his liberal credentials, he has 
joined George W. Bush in targeting the most vulnerable members of society.

full: http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2007/02/24/health-care-cuts/