TRENTON, N.J., May 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A diverse coalition of
groups including AARP, the Medical Society of New Jersey and scores of
additional organizations representing healthcare workers, nursing homes,
mental health agencies and others raised their voices today in support of
New Jersey hospitals.
More than 2,500 hospital advocates amassed at the State House today in
the "Care Today, Gone Tomorrow" rally. The group protested the nearly $300
million in proposed state cuts to healthcare programs, including a $143
million hit to the charity care program that funds hospital care for the
uninsured.
Nearly 20 organizations shared statements of support with the hospital
crowd. They include:
"AARP believes that cutting funding for charity care too drastically
could endanger local access to healthcare services. Cuts to healthcare
providers and increased barriers to services will only make matters worse
for everyone." - Sy Larson, AARP State President
"Our members, the 12,000 nurses and healthcare workers in HPAE, are on
the frontlines of delivering quality healthcare in times of enormous
financial stresses on our healthcare system. Now is not the time to cut
funding to our hospitals, but it is time to find new ways to provide health
coverage to all of our communities Cutting care to our hospitals simply
shifts the costs of healthcare onto our patients and hospitals, who cannot
carry the additional burden without threatening access to quality care." -
Ann Twomey, President, Health Professionals and Allied Employees
"Whereas, Gov. Corzine has proposed massive cuts in the charity care
budget and hospitals will see millions of dollars cut from their charity
care programs, ..., and whereas, to demonstrate the Medical Society of New
Jersey's goodwill in the spirit of cooperation and in opposition to this
unfair and harmful cut to the healthcare budget, which will result in
diminished care for New Jersey's medically indigent patients, now therefore
be it resolved that the Medical Society of New Jersey stands in support of
the New Jersey Hospital Association's efforts to prevent the proposed cuts
in the charity care budget." - Michael Kornett, CEO and Executive Director,
and R. Prasad Gupta, MD, President, Medical Society of New Jersey
"An $18 million cut in Graduate Medical Education funding could
eliminate 4,000 physicians-in-training positions over a 10-year period,
exacerbating New Jersey's protected physician shortage. In addition,
already six hospitals in the last 18 months have closed their doors
forever. Half of our remaining healthcare institutions are losing money -
victims of chronic underfunding. The Corzine Administration has even
admitted its latest cuts are likely to force the closure of additional
hospitals. The future of healthcare in New Jersey depends on us making our
concerns heard." - Richard Goldstein, MD, President, N.J. Council of
Teaching Hospitals
"We agree with Gov. Corzine's statements that healthcare access for the
poor and vulnerable should be a priority that is not sacrificed. Without
restoration of the cuts, the poor and vulnerable will be harmed as programs
are forced to close." - Fr. Joe Kukura, Executive Director, Catholic
HealthCare Partnership of New Jersey
"To cut charity care funding by $143 million is irresponsible and
dangerous. As nurses, this concerns us deeply. We diligently strive to
provide timely, appropriate and compassionate care to all in need. However,
we fear the increased burden on the remaining open hospitals will create
unsafe situations, result in decreased patient satisfaction and foster less
positive patient outcomes." - Patricia Daley, RN, Executive Director,
Organization of Nurse Executives/New Jersey
"We are deeply concerned about the cumulative impact of cuts to the
hospital system on the mental health services provided to New Jersey's most
vulnerable citizens. The combination of reductions in Charity Care,
Graduate Medical Education and Medicaid rates for children's and adult
partial hospitalization services, as well as the closures of numerous
hospitals, threatens access to critical mental health services for
individuals in need." - Debra L. Wentz, Chief Executive Officer, New Jersey
Association of Mental Health Agencies
"The Association of Diploma Schools of Professional Nursing supports
the N.J. Hospital Association's efforts to reinstate the more than $143
million in cuts to the charity care subsidy. The proposed cuts will cause
more hospital closures and less access to care for the state's most
vulnerable citizens. We need quality, accessible healthcare in our state."
- Bonny Ross, EdD, RN, President, Association of Diploma Schools of
Professional Nursing
"As Patient Advocates working in New Jersey hospitals, we are extremely
concerned about the Governors proposed $143 million subsidy cut to charity
care and the $90 million cut to our nursing centers. We see patients
everyday within our hospitals and nursing homes who do not have insurance
or adequate insurance to cover the costs of their care. Even now, with the
current levels of funding, it is extremely upsetting for patients and
families to have long waits in our Emergency Departments because of the
volume of patients that come to our facilities with no insurance. For some
of my colleagues, these cuts will mean the closure of their hospital. What
will that do to the waits in the surrounding area's Emergency Departments
and hospitals? How long will people in New Jersey have to wait to receive
the care they need - if they can receive it at all? We join NJHA in support
of all its efforts to work with the Governor to help him see how these cuts
will affect the most vulnerable of his constituents, as well as the workers
who put themselves on the line each and every day in an effort to provide
the care our patients need." - Teresa Lawlor, President, New Jersey Society
for Healthcare Consumer Advocates
"As a long time partner in the effort to deliver healthcare services to
the uninsured and underserved, the Home Care Association of New Jersey
supports the New Jersey Hospital Association and its campaign to direct
additional funding in the budget for this important purpose. Home health
agencies across this state provide uncompensated care each and every day
and thus we encourage the state to increase charity care for hospitals and
reimbursement for other providers who are critical to the healthcare
system." - Sherl Brand, President and CEO, Home Care Association of New
Jersey
"The compounded effect of reimbursement cuts contained in past budgets
is taking its toll on nursing facilities and the residents for whom they
provide care. The 29,000 frail and elderly Medicaid beneficiaries who
depend on nursing facilities for their care simply cannot afford to have
their Medicaid payments to these facilities reduced yet again." - Paul
Langevin, President, Health Care Association of New Jersey
"The state's charity care plan fails not only New Jersey's hospitals,
but also the vulnerable patients they serve. Most of these individuals are
New Jersey's working poor, those who hold jobs but who do not receive an
insurance benefit and can't afford health insurance on their own. Every
hospital across the state provides care for these patients in the Emergency
Room and throughout the hospital. On behalf of the Healthcare Planning and
Marketing Society of New Jersey, I respectfully urge the State to reinstate
funding for charity care in the 2009 budget." - Anthony Stanowski,
President, Healthcare Planning and Marketing Society of New Jersey
"As providers of occupational therapy in New Jersey's hospitals,
nursing homes and community facilities, our members address recovery of
important life skills for citizens at risk of losing them due to illness,
accident or developmental problems. The lack of accessible healthcare
within these critical institutions will cause greater dependency and
greater cost for everyone in the state, and in the end, for the state as
well - this is not a cost savings." - Cynthia Epstein, State Liaison, New
Jersey Occupational Therapy Association
"The disappearance of hospitals in our communities not only means the
loss of thousands of jobs, but more importantly, it seriously impedes
access to quality healthcare. Governor Corzine's 2009 budget proposes
nearly $300 million in healthcare cuts, including $143 million for charity
care services for the uninsured and a total of $90 million in state and
federal cuts to nursing homes. Should this proposed cut go through, New
Jersey will undoubtedly see more hospital closures and job reductions. New
Jersey hospitals and their employees provide the safety-net care to our
uninsured residents. We respectfully ask our elected officials to support
appropriate funding for charity care in the 2009 budget and oppose the
proposed cuts to this program." - Micki McIntyre, Chair, NY-NJ Chapter of
the Medical Library Association
"The Health Sciences Association of New Jersey Library Association
(http://www.hslanj.org) fully supports and appreciates the efforts of healthcare
advocates attending the rally on May 12, 2008. It is imperative that all
members of the New Jersey healthcare community work together in order to
ensure that New Jerseyans continue to have access to quality healthcare." -
Jeannine Creazzo, President, Health Sciences Library Association of New
Jersey
"All demographic forecasts show a growth in the number of people over
65. As our citizens age there will clearly be a need for more hospitals and
nursing homes. This is the sort of factual research information that needs
to underpin actions about government policy and decisions. Libraries of all
types, but in particular those in government and the medical field, can
provide this support. It would seem unfathomable that a case could be made
for fewer hospitals, fewer nursing homes and fewer medical libraries in
healthcare settings." - Stephen Abram, President, Special Libraries
Association
"Access to healthcare by our most vulnerable population has been
eroding for years. The Governor's proposed budget will now accelerate the
crisis by forcing even more hospitals to close. The Hospital Fund Raising
Executives of New Jersey decries the reduction in charity care and supports
rational prioritization of budget cuts." - Roman N. Lucky, President,
Hospital Fund Raising Executives of New Jersey
"As a board member and secretary for the N.J. Chapter HiMSS, it is most
important that our children, the elderly and all residents of New Jersey be
given the opportunity to receive good - no, excellent - healthcare. We
cannot turn our backs on the institutions and the caregivers. Please
support our hospitals, doctors and nurses. Do not cut the spending in
healthcare." - Anthony Ferrante, Healthcare Information Management and
Systems Society
"As President of The New Jersey Association of Healthcare Recruiters, I
am concerned about healthcare delivery in our state and support the efforts
proposed by NJHA to maintain our healthcare institutions as viable
resources and services for our citizens. We are fortunate to have qualified
nurses and allied health professionals available in our state to be able to
deliver the care that New Jerseyans are seeking and need." - Diane Poulios,
RN, President, New Jersey Association of Healthcare Recruiters
"Hospitals are a vital part of any community and the perceived cost
saved by closing hospitals cannot measure up to the price communities will
pay because residents lack access to quality, local healthcare." - Tim
Collins, President, EBSCO Publishing
"Knowing the state and the quality of care residents receive from New
Jersey hospitals, it is alarming to consider the impact of such widespread
hospital closures. Communities and the state at large depend on these
services to provide for the financially neediest residents to the sickest
individuals. Closing hospitals cannot be the answer to a fiscal crisis, but
rather an invitation to further crises." - Parker Livermore, Senior
Director of Worldwide Medical Sales, EBSCO Publishing
SOURCE New Jersey Hospital Association
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Related links:
http://www.hslanj.org/
CONTACT:
Kerry McKean Kelly of New Jersey Hospital
Association, +1-609-275-4069
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