Public Employee Press

Union and HHC fight federal Medicaid cuts

At a news conference at Bellevue Hospital Oct. 26, DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, HHC President Alan Aviles and a coalition of doctors, nurses, unionists and health care professionals spoke out against cuts to Medicaid and other federal funding to the city's safety net of public hospitals.

Speakers focused on the funding cuts being considered by the federal deficit reduction committee, which threaten the long-term financial stability of HHC, the 1.3 million poor and 475,000 uninsured patients it serves, and the vital public services DC 37 members provide.

Jobs and justice

"These are cuts New Yorkers cannot afford," said Roberts, who stood with Local 768 President Fitz Reid, Local 1549 2nd Vice President Ralph Palladino and Local 420 Vice President Isobel Figueroa. "This is about people. These cuts will endanger patients' lives, and that will also lead to lawsuits against the city," Roberts said. "These are our tax dollars and they are about to cut our throats by cutting Medicaid funding."

In a recent study, the National Association of Public Hospitals said HHC and other municipal health-care facilities not only keep communities healthy but act as economic engines that drive local economies and support small businesses. In 2009, HHC pumped $11.7 billion into New York City's economy and employed more than 70,000 people.

"Every dollar spent on HHC generates two dollars in the community," said Palladino. "High unemployment compounds the need for public health care services. This is about fairness, jobs and justice."

HHC, the nation's largest municipal health-care system, faces the greatest potential loss: a 5 percent cut in Medicaid would cost the local economy about $3.8 billion and a 15 percent cut would jeopardize $11.4 billion in economic activity.