Stack: Republican Budget Proposal Jeopardizes Citizens' Health
HARRISBURG, MAY 6, 2009 — State Sen. Mike Stack said the Pennsylvania Senate Republicans’ budget proposal that passed the Senate today could jeopardize the health of millions of Pennsylvanians.
“No one disputes that this budget year is extremely difficult and we’re going to have to make painful cuts, but they should not be at the expense of our citizens’ well being,” Stack said. “This budget proposal risks Pennsylvania’s chances at receiving much-needed federal stimulus funding. Instead of investing in our future, this budget is cutting to our demise.”
The Senate today approved Senate Bill 850 by a vote of 30-20. Every Senate Democrat opposed the legislation, which now moves to the House of Representatives.
“It is irresponsible to make cuts to certain areas, especially when they concern the health of Pennsylvanians,” Stack said.
Specifically, the health care-acquired infection portion of the Prescription for Pennsylvania has been completely eliminated. This funding, which was allotted in Gov. Ed Rendell’s budget proposal, would help health care facilities put preventative measures in place to lower patients’ risks of getting an infection at these facilities.
“Health care-acquired infections only result in more lengthy hospital stays, which take a toll on patients, who remain unable to work,” Stack said. “If they are unable to work, they may not get a paycheck and their employer loses out on a worker.
“If that patient doesn’t have health care, then the bill goes to the taxpayers,” Stack added. “This funding is beneficial to taxpayers who would otherwise have to pay for a hospital’s mistake.”
Additionally, the Republicans’ budget calls for multiple cuts for Medical Assistance programs, which jeopardize Pennsylvania’s potential for receiving $4 billion in Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) stimulus funds.
“By cutting MA programs, we are not only cutting off a necessary service to our lower income, special needs and elderly citizens but we’re also cutting off a truly beneficial funding source from the federal government,” Stack said. “We should be putting more money into these necessary services, not cutting them.”
The Republicans also called for $279.5 million in cuts to hospital disproportionate share payments.
“These disproportionate share payments couldn’t come at a worse time,” Stack said. “Hospitals that serve a large Medical Assistance population need more funding, not less.”
While the governor’s budget proposal calls for increasing state funding to the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to $94.6 million, the Republican budget scales it back to last year’s funding level of $86.9 million.
If the state matching funds for CHIP are limited to last year’s numbers, Pennsylvania will not be able to receive $16.4 million in federal matching funds.
More importantly, the Rendell Administration estimates that 24,000 fewer children will not receive CHIP coverage if the state funding is reduced to $86.9 million.
“There is simply no excuse for risking the health of any Pennsylvanian, and especially our children, in the name of a balanced budget,” Stack said. “We need to go back to the drawing board and find a reasonable way to balance the state’s spending plan.”
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