HANYS Makes Its Point

Holy moley.

The Healthcare Association of New York State, which represents more than 550 non-profit and public hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies, and other health care organizations, is running this ad starting January 19th.




That is some major criticism of Governor Paterson's budget cuts. Over the top, or on target?

Says HANYS President Daniel Sisto:

“Health care services have already been cut twice this fiscal year by more than $1 billion, and now we’re facing another $5 billion in cuts over the next two years.

“Hospitals have been bled dry year after year by budget cuts and the failure of government payers to reimburse for the true cost of care. We simply can no longer do more with less. These cuts will mean we’ll have to do less with less, and that means the elimination of critical health care services such as cancer screenings and well-child clinics, reduced emergency room capacity, and in some instances, as we have seen too many times in the past, it could mean the outright closure of a hospital.

“Moreover, service reductions will yield staff reductions, which we have already begun seeing across the state. In the midst of an economic crisis, it makes no sense for the government to create job losses in the only economic sector that is viable in many communities. They are cutting services and jobs when we need them the most. It’s bad public policy times two...”

New York State is expected to be getting roughly $5 billion in federal Medicaid funding through the federal stimulus plan. I guess the ad is making the case for where HANYS wants it to go.