Healthcare Providers Declare Emergency as Funding Cuts Threaten Medicare and Medi-Cal Programs

SEIU-UHW and CHW Warn Most Vulnerable Californians at Risk as Congress Considers Huge Budget Reductions

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SEIU United Healthcare Workers West, Catholic Healthcare West, doctors, patients and healthcare providers will hold a joint press conference on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at St. Francis Memorial Hospital in an effort to protect Medi-Cal and Medicare funding and programs that keep California families, seniors and children healthy.

In a few short weeks, Congress will decide whether or not to cut $500 billion or more to Medi-Cal and Medicare. Cuts to these programs would deny millions of seniors, people with disabilities and children lifesaving care and cost our country millions of good jobs.

Both organizations’ mission is to increase and improve access to healthcare for Californians. Joining together, SEIU-UHW and CHW will call on Congress and the Super Committee to promote healthy communities and protect funding for hospitals, patients and healthcare workers.

Thursday’s press conference is the first in a series of statewide actions where SEIU-UHW healthcare members are joining with Catholic Healthcare West, healthcare providers, patients and advocates. Other events will take place on Nov. 11 in Los Angeles and Nov. 14 in Bakersfield.

     

WHAT:

Joint press conference to protect Medi-Cal and Medicare—SEIU United
Healthcare Workers West and Catholic Healthcare West
 

SPEAKERS:

Tom Hennessy, President and CEO of Saint Francis Memorial Hospital

Kathryn Parkinson, SEIU-UHW member, lead nuclear med tech,

Saint Mary’s Medical Center

Bob Lewis, SEIU-UHW member, patient transportation,

Saint Mary’s Medical Center
 

WHEN:

Thursday, November 10, 2011, 1:00 PM
 

WHERE:

Periotti Pavilion, first floor
Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, 900 Hyde St, San Francisco

About SEIU-UHW

SEIU—United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is the largest hospital and healthcare union in the western United States with more than 150,000 members. We unite every type of healthcare worker with a mission to achieve high-quality healthcare for all. SEIU-UHW is part of the 2.2 million-member Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the nation's fastest-growing union. Learn more at www.seiu-uhw.org.

About Catholic Healthcare West

Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), headquartered in San Francisco, CA, is a system of 40 hospitals and medical centers in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Founded in 1986, it is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest private hospital system in California. CHW is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality, affordable health care services with special attention to the poor and underserved. The CHW network of nearly 10,000 physicians and approximately 55,000 employees provides health care services to more than five million people annually. In 2011, CHW provided more than $1.4 billion in charity care, community benefit, and unreimbursed patient care. For more information, please visit our website at www.chwHEALTH.org.



CONTACT:

SEIU-UHW
Carlyn Foster, 510-541-0931
or
CHW
Tricia Griffin, 415-438-5524

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  California

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Health  Hospitals  Public Policy/Government  Healthcare Reform  Congressional News/Views  Labor  Other Government  Other Policy Issues  Public Policy  State/Local  Professional Services  Human Resources  General Health  Managed Care

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