Area health care employees and activists rallied outside the Onondaga Community Center Wednesday morning protesting the state’s proposed $3 billion cut to health care.

Nearly 80 people were at the protest, which coincided with a meeting of the county’s Budget Council and the New York State Association of Counties, carrying signs and chanting ‘Public enemy number one: Medicaid cuts,’ and ‘No funding, no peace.’

Gov. George E. Pataki’s recently proposed budget suggests cutting nearly $3 billion from Medicaid, which could force hospitals and nursing homes to close, said Chris Fleming, a representative of the local chapter of the Service Employees International Union.

‘The effects of these cuts would be utterly devastating, particularly in this area’ he said.

Central New York hospitals risk losing an estimated $13 million. University Hospital alone could lose $5.5 million, more than any other hospital in the area. CNY nursing homes face a potential loss of $13 million.

‘What doesn’t seem like a deep cut to the legislature is actually a very deep cut for the hospitals,’ said Marty Liquori, an electrician at Crouse Hospital.

What legislators do not advertise is each dollar from the state is matched by one dollar from the county and two from the federal government, Liquori said. This means the cuts would really equal $6 billion.

The budget cuts to hospitals and nursing homes pose a threat to employees, who are concerned about the elimination of more jobs from an already thinly spread work force to contain costs, said Kevin Byrne, a nurse a Crouse Hospital, according to the Healthcare Education Project.

‘We still have to treat everyone that comes in the door, whether we have the staff or not,’ Byrne said.

The cuts do not just affect unionized workers, but also working families who rely on the state’s health care programs: Medicaid, Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus, said Theresa Goff, a certified nurse’s assistant at Lorretto Nursing Home. Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus are available to those who do not qualify for Medicaid.

‘We’re going to see a flood of people off the streets using the emergency room instead of the clinics because they can’t afford it,’ said Desire Everson, a financial counselor and Medicaid facilitator at Crouse.

Some of the protestors were there representing Medicaid families and community activists.

Hali Whyland, 13, and her mother, Fern Whyland, use Medicaid waivers to help alleviate medical costs, such as a power wheelchair and leg braces, which their regular insurance does not cover for Hali’s cerebral palsy.

‘I wonder how people would be able to get wheelchairs and medical supplies they need,’ Fern Whyland said.

The cuts also threaten staffing at Casey’s Place, the residential facility staffed by professional nurses for children on Medicaid, where children can go to have sleepovers with their friends, Whyland said.

The protesters swarmed around County Executive Nick Pirro as he left the meeting.

‘He got the message a little bit today, but we’re going to make sure he gets the message in spades before we’re done,’ said Marshall Blake, SEIU 1199’s executive vice president.

Many of the protestors were traveling to Utica for another rally at 2 p.m. The Healthcare Education Project, a joint effort between SEIU 1199 and the Greater New York Hospital Association, has been sponsoring rallies and door-to-door campaigns to protest Pataki’s cuts.

‘Pataki thought easy,’ Byrne said. ‘The easiest way to cut is from the bottom, from those with the least amount of power, and that’s patient care.’

Published on March 1, 2005 at 12:00 pm