Proposed 2009-2010 budget cuts to hospital Medicaid payments are significant, and will greatly impact patients and communities. Trauma care, burn care, obstetrics and neonatal care, rural health care, health and medical education, and care for low-income patientsare not services people can go without.

The economic recession is having a significant negative financial impact on Pennsylvania hospitalsfrom job layoffs to service cut-backs. Further hospital Medicaid payment cuts will be devastating. At the same time, more Pennsylvanians are losing jobs and health care insurance, but still need health care. Restoration of the hospital cuts is essential to preserve the hospital safety net for Pennsylvanians with health care needs.

In addition, timely access to physicians is a critical part of the health care delivery system. The Mcare Fund has been a deterrent to attracting new physicians and retaining existing physicians. The sooner the Mcare fund is retired, the sooner access to care will improve.

There are no alternatives when health care services are gone.