Louise Slaughter: “I rise today to send a warning to my colleagues who believe that Medicare and Medicaid reductions will not reduce the…”

“I rise today to send a warning to my colleagues who believe that Medicare and Medicaid reductions will not reduce the availability of affordable quality health care for millions of low-income children, senior citizens and the disabled. I would direct all of my colleagues to an article in the June 4 New York Times which illustrates the impact on private hospitals of Medicaid reductions and the explosion of managed care. The result is that many hospitals are in serious financial danger and will ultimately close. My warning to other Members is to think about their own districts and States. If hospitals in New York can close even before the full implementation of a $158 billion reduction in Medicare and a $72 billion reduction in Medicaid, what are the implications for the other States? New York has always taken pride in the level of investment in health care. Can other States make the same claim? I recognize the need to control Medicare and Medicaid spending, but the Republican budget proposal goes well beyond fiscal responsibility and will result in a reduction in health care services. We can help encourage greater efficiency in hospital operations, we can help encourage the lack of overutilization in hospitals and we can encourage savings, but New York hospitals closing should sound a warning bell to all Members of Congress.”