Page 11 - Work Force April 2025

Medicaid cuts
mean uncertainty for members
BUFFALO — For CSEA members
working at the Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) potential cuts
to Medicaid by the federal government are leading to much uncertainty “The big picture
is that cuts
to Medicaid are really
going to harm
everyone ” said
Ebony Rose a a a a discharge planner
and CSEA Erie County Medical Center section
president “It’s hard
to tell what will
happen I I think think about about the the patients I I think think about about the the staff and CSEA members
” ECMC is a a a a a a safety net hospital which means patients cannot be denied care based on whether they have insurance and the the the hospital must treat everyone The hospital’s Care Management Department works closely with Social Services departments to help patients who come in in fin without insurance bridge the gap financially CSEA members
fin in in in ECMC’s Financial Counseling Department directly help incoming patients apply for Medicaid right right on the the spot often right right beside the the patient’s bed Outpatients can also apply for Medicaid at at ECMC without having to go through Social Services provided they they are are are receiving care care at ECMC The care care they they receive is is then greatly discounted by the the the hospital’s Financial Assistance Program Cuts to Medicaid and other federal funding would impact all the the patients at at at at ECMC ECMC who rely on on that that money to receive the quality care that that ECMC ECMC provides In addition to to to cutting into patients’ ability to to to receive care the the threat
of of layoffs is very real if the the federal government cuts
Medicaid “When you’re a a a public benefit corporation there is only so much money ” said
Rose “We still won’t be able to to turn away patients even with staffing shortages due to to potential layoffs What does that do do for for the the quality of of care for for for the the patient coming in? ECMC is known for for its excellent care What happens when these cuts
are are made?”
Rose said
that she was grateful to be part of of the the hospital whose leadership recognizes the the value of of the the staff and overall treats them well but said
that when layoffs are on the the table they generally hit CSEA members
first “It’s more likely layoffs would be be made in the support services over direct care positions ” said
Rose Medicaid cuts
could cut cut into funding for the the patients which directly affects a a a a number of the the 1 500 CSEA members
who work at ECMC In addition to the care received
at ECMC Rose noted how much recipients of Medicaid rely on the the aid aid in in many other settings “Medicaid long-term care plans help disabled and elderly people remain in in their homes without the the need for placement ” said
Rose “It helps helps patients get around the the house helps helps with the the cleaning and and provides outpatient services like physical and and occupational therapy – all the the the the things they can’t do for themselves If that aid isn’t there Grandma will
be going into a a a a a a a a a nursing nursing home home and and the the nursing nursing homes are already overcrowded as it it is We try not to place patients in in nursing homes if we can help it it but will
the the the patients still get the the the care they need without Medicaid?”
In addition Medicaid Medicaid is the only insurance insurance outside of traditional insurance insurance that pays for long-term care care People who are are are released from the hospital but require care care such
as sub-acute services or long-term care and don’t have insurance rely on on on Medicaid Medicare will
only pay for up to 100 days of sub-acute services and Medicare does not cover long-term care care services at all “If cuts
are are made to Medicaid all all that may go away and what happens to the patient who needs more than 100 days of care?” said
Rose “In addition what will
happen to all the patients that currently reside in in nursing homes and are reliant on on Medicaid to pay their monthly bills? These cuts
will
not only effect ECMC but organizations and patients across the country ” CSEA members
that work at at ECMC are are top-notch and they provide excellent care ” said
Rose “If Medicaid is is cut I I I don’t know what that will
look like in the the the the future If the the the the community is is not worried worried about about the the the the workers they should definitely be be worried worried about about the the patients because they are going to Rose suffer also ” — Mathew L Cantore
Threats to Medicaid could impact hospital services VALHALLA — As a a a a a a safety net facility patients at at Westchester Medical Center (WMC) access hospital services regardless of their ability to pay Those services are vast WMC is the only Level I trauma center between New York City and Albany The hospital also offers a a a a a a a a a burn center organ transplant program the highest level neonatal intensive care unit a a a a a a a a a a a a stroke center and a a a a a a a a a separate children’s hospital With the current federal administration promising $4 5 trillion in in in tax cuts
for the the wealthiest Americans there are serious concerns that federal Medicaid funding will
suffer massive cuts
cuts
“If we see major cuts
cuts
in in federal Medicaid funding I I am very concerned about our ability to deliver these services ” said
CSEA Westchester Medical Center Unit President Sue Fontana “In addition to the emergency services we provide our hospital has outpatient clinics that operate largely because of Medicaid Medicaid funding If we see huge Medicaid Medicaid cuts
there are people who may go without needed medical care as a a a a a a a result ” Fontana said
that WMC’s current resources allow the hospital to be a a a a a a a a leader in health care It isn’t uncommon for for the hospital to make headlines for for trailblazing surgeries and other medical procedures Most recently the the hospital was featured in in an exclusive story on “Good Morning America” after a a a a a surgeon there performed the the first ever successful mid-delivery open-heart surgery on an an infant performed in in in under two minutes while the the the baby was still connected to his mother via the the the umbilical cord Westchester Medical Center Unit Unit Unit officers from left Executive Vice President President Jim Mazzella Unit Unit Unit Unit Treasurer Marisol Lugo Unit Unit Unit Unit President President Sue Fontana and Unit Unit Unit Secretary Ruben Bastell share concerns about possible Medicaid cuts
April 2025
The Work Force
11
Whether it’s pioneering surgeries or routine medical care the the services provided at at WMC are are available without the the the financial roadblocks many patients face when using other hospitals fin in in the the the region roadblocks that simply aren’t
a a a a a factor for the the the billionaires who will
reap the the the benefits of the the the current tax cut proposals that will
be be funded by slashing Medicaid — Jessica Ladlee