AMC Takes Budget Concerns to Albany
January 29th, 2009
SARANAC LAKE – A contingency of Adirondack Medical Center representatives traveled to Albany on Tuesday, January 27, to meet with their elected leaders concerning Governor David Paterson’s proposed cuts to health care funding.
The AMC group consisted of key members of the leadership team from both the hospital and nursing homes, board of trustees, community relations, and a student from the New Vision program. At stake is $3.5 billion in cuts to health care state wide, which if enacted would have a dramatic impact on the programs and services offered by medical centers and nursing homes. The problem is more critical in the Tri-Lakes region with similar budget cuts looming for correctional facilities and education. Given the challenging economic climate, it is all the more important for residents of the Tri-Lakes region to have immediate access to much needed health and human services – especially for those who lack the means to access care when they need it most.
On Tuesday morning, the AMC representatives met with Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward, followed by a meeting later that day with Senator Elizabeth “Betty” Little. Both Assemblywoman Sayward and Senator Little have been staunch advocates for AMC in the past and vowed to continue that support moving forward.
“We are very fortunate to have not only Teresa and Betty, but Assemblywoman Janet Duprey also representing AMC and the interests of the North Country in the state legislature,” said Joe Riccio, Communications Manager for AMC.
In addition to meeting with their local representatives, the AMC group had the opportunity to hear remarks from key leaders in the Assembly and Senate, who vowed to do their best to protect key health care services, but at the same time acknowledged the difficult financial times ahead.
“While many of the leaders in the legislature spoke of shared sacrifice in these difficult times, they failed to recognize that health care is being asked to make the greatest sacrifice in terms of budget cuts,” said Riccio.
One thing that the state lawmakers did agree upon is that Medicaid dollars released from the federal government as part of a stimulus package would be directed to Medicaid services on the state level.
Members of the public can contact their lawmakers regarding the governor’s proposed health care cuts by logging on to http://www.helpyourhospital.org/ or http://www.helpyournursinghome.org/. Both websites show the budget impact on hospitals and nursing homes, as well as the means to send letters via e-mail to your state representative.
For more information or assistance contacting your legislator, contact the AMC Community Relations Office at (518) 897-2341.
CAPTION:
Among the group of AMC representatives who traveled to Albany on Tuesday to meet with state lawmakers were Emily Selleck (center), Chair of the AMC Board of Trustees, and Sarah Paiement, a student in the AMC New Vision program. At left is state Senator Elizabeth “Betty” Little.
CAPTION:
Representatives of AMC pose with Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward (center) following a meeting with her as part of Advocacy Day efforts. From left to right, front row, are Alison Riley-Clark, New Vision Instructor; Sarah Paiement, New Vision student; Assemblywoman Sayward; Emily Selleck, AMC Board of Trustees Chair; Cheryl Breen Randall, Executive Director of AMC Foundation and Community Relations; back row, left to right, Cyndee McGuire, Chief Operating Officer; Dan Bower, AMC-Uihlein/Mercy Controller; Rev. Carlos Caguiat, AMC Board of Trustees; Don Lewis, Assistant Vice President of Long Term Care and Administrator for AMC-Mercy.
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AMC is accredited by the Joint Commission. Click here to view the Joint Commission Public Notice. |
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AMC is accredited by the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program. |
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Adirondack Medical Center's Bariatric Program and Dr. Michael Hill have been designated as a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. |
