The Facts
With proposed cuts of 35 percent or more in state reimbursement for care, some hospitals will be forced to limit services. Some clinics will close. Wait times will grow longer for everyone. Jobs will be cut, and unemployment will increase. Hospital layoffs will have a ripple effect throughout Texas communities, and the state’s ability to attract new businesses will be harmed. Texas also will lose critical federal matching funds. State cuts will shift costs to local taxpayers and those with health insurance.
The Texas Legislature also proposes to reduce trauma funding by 23 percent, and funding for nursing education could be totally eliminated. All of these cuts to funding for local hospitals, doctors and nurses will impact every Texan’s pocketbook, as well as their health care.
Cuts alone cannot solve this budget crisis. The Texas Legislature must look at additional revenue, and there are other options such as tapping the rainy day fund, fixing the structural problems with the business tax system and modifying tax exemptions.
Get the Facts:
|
