Charles Cole CEO Speaks at Capitol

Ed Pitchford, president and chief executive officer at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital, traveled to Harrisburg Tuesday to speak on behalf of small rural hospitals during a Hospital and Healthysystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) media event on the steps of the state capitol.

HAP hand delivered a 13,000 signature petition to the governor and state legislative leaders urging the restoration of hospital funding in the 2009-10 state budget. Of those online signatures, over 400 came from those supporting CCMH.

During his remarks, Pitchford spoke about the critical services that CCMH provides to its rural communities in Potter, McKean, Cameron, and Tioga counties. Without proper funding for small rural hospitals, vital hospital services would be in jeopardy across the state, he said.

House Republicans and Democrats have submitted budgets that restore, to varying degrees, funding for small rural hospitals and obstetrics programs, Pitchford said. “We are making progress and our voice is being heard,” he said. “We still have work to do to convince policymakers to continue supporting small rural hospitals through the end of this budget negotiation but we are pleased that the House has taken the lead to restore this funding in the proposed state budget. I thank everyone who signed the petition and provided their support for Charles Cole and small rural hospitals across Pennsylvania.”

There are current proposals which call for cutting hospital funding by up to $280 million, by eliminating support for trauma centers, burn centers, obstetrical and neonatal services, medical and health professional education, small and rural hospitals, and hospital services for uninsured adults.

“Last week, we estimated that the proposed budget cuts could result in potential job losses for thousands of individuals who are either directly employed by hospitals or through jobs in communities that are related to hospitals,” said HAP President and CEO Carolyn F. Scanlan.

The economic recession is having a significant negative financial impact on Pennsylvania hospitals - from job layoffs to service cutbacks. Further hospital Medicaid payment cuts will be devastating. At the same time, more Pennsylvanians are losing jobs and health care insurance, but still need health care. Restoration of the hospital cuts is essential to preserve the hospital safety net for Pennsylvanians with health care needs.

“Hospitals have already taken significant steps in response to the ongoing recession,” Scanlan said. “Before the state budget cuts were proposed, half of all Pennsylvania hospitals were already facing challenges in meeting their day-to-day financial obligations; more than 8 out of 10 hospitals had, or were considering, reducing staff; and 9 out of 10 hospitals had reduced capital spending for building improvements, renovations, or new medical equipment.”

“Pennsylvania’s hospitals have made every effort to reduce expenses during the recession,” Scanlan said. “If any of the $280 million in proposed cuts is enacted, access to timely hospital care will be jeopardized and thousands of Pennsylvanians could lose their jobs.

“They also are major economic contributors. In 55 of 67 Pennsylvania counties where there are hospitals, hospitals are among the top employers, providing jobs with family-sustaining wages and benefits. Hospitals annually contribute $84 billion and 625,000 jobs to the state’s economy.”

Charles Cole Memorial Hospital is a member of HAP, a statewide membership services organization that advocated for nearly 250 Pennsylvania acute and specialty care, primary care, subacute care, long term care, home health, and hospice providers, as well as the patients and communities they serve. Additional information about HAP is available online at www.haponline.org.

(Photo provided by Charles Cole Memorial Hospital)