More whining over Rendell budget proposal

Gov. Ed Rendell said he doesn't want to hear any whining about his $29 billion 2009-10 state budget.

But he's getting an earful.

First it was the labor unions representing state workers. They don't want to hear that the governor wants to eliminate 2,600 union state workers.

Now it's the lobbyists for Pennsylvania hospitals.

The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) today issued the following statement from President and CEO Carolyn F. Scanlan:

"The governor has proposed a budget for the Commonwealth that significantly reduces Medicaid payments to Pennsylvania's struggling hospitals. The proposed budget will further damage this vital hospital safety net (particularly those hospitals who care for large numbers of Medicaid and uninsured patients) and thereby reduce access to health care for all Pennsylvanians at a time when the need for that care is increasing."

PA Hospitals: Proposed State Budget Will Threaten Health Care Safety Net, Health Care Jobs