The Governor Again Targets Local Health Care
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Comment
Sag Harbor - New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I-Sag Harbor) charged that Governor Paterson's proposed state budget cuts would unfairly impact local hospitals by more than $1.35 million, if they were to be approved by the State Legislature. Specifically, the cuts to local hospitals would be as follows:
• Southampton Hospital - $466,000
• Peconic Bay Medical Center - $565,000
• Eastern Long Island Hospital - $321,000
Thiele stated, "Our community hospitals have already been adversely impacted by taxes and cuts enacted in 2008 and 2009, which I opposed.
Cumulatively, the three East End community hospitals were cut by $1.68 million over the past two years. Rather than impact local health services, the Governor should be focusing his attention on health insurance companies and HMOs. At the same time that hospitals are in the red and receiving insurance reimbursement rates that are lower than even Medicaid, insurance companies continue to reap obscene profit levels while at the same time holding our community hospitals hostage. Instead of bankrupting community hospitals, the Governor may want to consider a comprehensive reform that reins in excessive profits and returns that money to the "heart" of the health care system: our local hospitals. Health care should be about patients, not profits and stockholders."
Guest (notmd) from new york says:
this is just the beginning..With President Obama swiching gears from universal coverage to cost containment,you will see the government reduce their spending even further and the insurers pushing back on rate increases..there will be no rationing of care or major change in how people take care of themselves therefore non-profits will be at risk and i see many more closing..