White House Budget Plan Eviscerates New York’s Hospita

Hospitals and health care providers across New York State would lose a staggering $10 billion under the proposed budget released by President George W. Bush, according to analysis by the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), the only statewide hospital and continuing care association in New York State.The President’s proposal for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2009 includes a broad array of deep cuts that would imperil patient care, including provisions that over five years would cut Medicare payments for physician training in New York by more than $4 billion, and cut $1.5 billion for New York hospitals that care for high concentrations of poor and uninsured patients.“President Bush’s final budget represents the most hostile attack of the health care system that we have seen in a generation,” HANYS President Daniel Sisto said.“His proposal would eviscerate core health care funding areas, such as doctor training and care for the poor and uninsured. If enacted, these cuts would exacerbate existing doctor shortages and diminish our hospitals’ ability to provide care to our most vulnerable patients. It’s a plan that is in perfect lockstep with this President’s penchant for turning bad situations into disasters.“Our message to the New York State Congressional Delegation is clear: our patients are again counting on you to reject these massive funding cuts,” Mr. Sisto said.

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