Senator Volker Denounces Governor Spitzer's Health Care Cuts

(DEPEW, NY) Today, together with Presidents and CEO’s from local nursing homes, Senator Dale M. Volker (R-I-C, Depew), assailed the massive cuts to hospitals and nursing homes that have been proposed by Governor Spitzer in his Executive Budget. The devastating impact, if enacted, will take more than $1.2 billion from hospitals and nursing homes across the State, and significantly negatively impact the quality of care in western New York.

A recent vote in the State Senate pertaining to the Governor’s Health Care cuts were unanimously rejected by the State Senate Republican Majority.

"Lets not kid ourselves, the draconian cuts proposed by Governor Spitzer to our region’s hospitals and nursing homes would compromise patient care and place the elderly and frail segments of our population at risk," said Senator Dale M. Volker. "Millions of dollars to care for our grandfathers, our grandmothers, fathers, mothers, uncles and aunts are being eliminated. You just can’t put patients first when your cutting funding for nursing homes, hospitals and the people who care for them."

Following the rejection of the Governor’s health care budget cuts, the Senate approved a health care budget resolution that includes a net restoration of $544 million for Medicaid and health programs, including restoring $241.1 million for hospitals and $230.4 million for nursing homes to ensure people’s access to care.

The Senate health care budget resolution will be submitted to budget conference committees as part of the public State budget negotiations.

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