What a crime this is….. These senators already know what they are going to do so the sit there and make these people beg and grovel. Is this just a show and they do this to watch these people squirm?
Leaders from Western New York’s four health-care systems warned state Senators Monday morning that additional budget cuts will force the closure of programs and facilities and could, in some cases, lead to hundreds of job losses.
CEOs from Kaleida Health, the Catholic Health System, Erie County Medical Center Corp. and Roswell Park Cancer Institute jointly testified at the UAW Hall in Cheektowaga about the potential impacts of Gov. David Paterson’s proposed $3 billion mid-year budget cuts. In total, 54 organizations — ranging from health care to non-profit to education — were set to speak during the regional hearing, one of several being held across the state by the Senate Finance Committee.
James Kaskie of Kaleida Health told elected officials that the “deep cuts proposed by the Governor once again aimed at the health-care industry in New York state and Western New York are not only dangerous, but … discriminatory and wrong.”
Kaleida could lose $7 million in state funding this year and another $9 million next year, on top of the $8 million in budget cuts it was forced to cut last year that impacted a slew of programs, led to the closure of Grace Manor Nursing Home in Buffalo and led to 60 job eliminations, Kaskie said.
If the proposed reductions are passed by the Legislature, more clinics and long-term care facilities could close, especially those for the poor, elderly and minorities, Kaskie said. Additionally, the organization may have to lay off more than 250 workers, he said.
“We can’t tolerate these levels of cuts and ensure the health of the overall health system,” he said after the hearing. “It’s like a tipping point.”
via Health-care execs give lawmakers an earful – Business First of Buffalo:.
