A dangerous precedent is occurring in Arizona that risks the survival of every hospital and health care job in Arizona . . . and across the nation if the nation's governors and state policy-makers follow Arizona's example. Last year, 39 of them slashed payments to providers and 20 slashed benefits. They are looking for additional ways to slash state Medicaid programs. They are watching Arizona.
It started with AZ Governor Brewer cutting the state Medicaid funds for life-saving organ transplants for critically ill and needy Arizonans, many too sick to work any job at all.
When she did not face the loud public outcry that some expected, she next pitched the Feds to permit her to cut state Medicaid for as many as 280,000 vulnerable Arizonans including 30,000 children.
When the loud public outcry that some expected was not much more than the whisper of those facing certain death because they cannot fund the transplants they need on their own -- and families helpless to obtain health insurance elsewhere because of pre-existing conditions or loss of a job due to a bad economy -- the Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee voted to take it a step farther.
Last week, the Committee voted to cancel the state's Medicaid program altogether and to replace it with a program that might serve as few as 80,000 needy Arizonans leaving the 1,222,000 who will no longer be receiving benefits to fend for themselves.
While Governor Brewer favors her proposal, it is just the lesser of two evils. She got this ball rolling . . . she upped the ante . . . she needs to be held accountable. And, she needs to be held accountable in a way that sends the strongest message possible to policy-makers and government leaders itching to follow in Arizona's footsteps. [DONATE NOW]
But this is not just a matter of conscience--it is also a matter of economics and reality:
"People who need care would get it from hospitals that would be unable to collect the bills. Ultimately, it will drive medical professionals out of the state", and "that unemployment could skyrocket." -- AZ State Medicaid Director * A Republican who voted against the Bill said that if it were to pass "You would see catastrophic consequences . . . By Christmas time, time there will not be a rural hospital open in Arizona." -- AZ Sen. Rich Crandall, R-Mesa
* "If we're only going to provide care to people who can pay for it, we'll be an outlier in the world, not just the United States . . . It is public health. It's not just indigent health. That people have appropriate health care is a public need." -- Ted Williams, former state health director & CEO of AZ Behavioral Health Corp
* "Business leaders, hospitals, health-care advocates and AHCCCS administrators predict a cascade of shuttered hospitals, thousands of job losses and a health-care network in tatters if the bill becomes law." -- Arizona Republic, Feb. 24, 2011 [DONATE NOW]
Arizona needs a new leadership starting with a credible Governor, not one who was swept in due to the fervor surrounding a popular piece of legislation. Now that we come to terms with what that got us, we need to correct course and pave the way for a new slate of candidates. We need to protect Arizona's health-care industry. We need to take a stand for those who are vulnerable and have no one else to look to.
Please support the effort to recall Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. Let's reverse the trend starting today. Let's make every government leader and policy-maker across the nation sit up and take notice. It is time to draw a line in the sand!
Only one thing stands in our way. That is the $2 million we figure we need to blanket the state with professional petition circulators, to buy the media we need to create awareness about this dangerous precedent-setting situation and to cover other expenses we expect to incur.
We have only two months to reach our signature requirement of 432,021 signatures. With enough money behind us, we CAN do it -- just as they did in California in 2003 when that state's Governor was successfully recalled. http://secure.campaigner.com/Campaigner/Public/t.show?IIpc--6n56-gA1Eo8
It's a Fed law that hospitals who receive Fed funds must treat everyone who presents in their ER - the hospital does not have to admit them, but the ER must treat them. AZ hospitals may refuse fed funds, making them totally private and very expensive.
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