OPPOSITION TO CONTINUED FEDERAL HEALTH CARE CUTS

WHEREAS, the Reagan administration is continuing to advocate drastic cuts in the Medicare and Medicaid programs that are already severely strained, is now causing cost shifting to other health insurance carriers, placing an increased and unfair burden on other insurances and those who pay for their insurance; and

WHEREAS, the Reagan administration has eliminated federal support for health planning councils, the need exists now more than ever for best use of existing services and prevention of duplication of services; and

WHEREAS, the Reagan administration's proposals to contain Medicare costs by increasing out-of-pocket expenses to the elderly will discourage utilization of health care services and wiil thereby subvert the intent of Medicare; and

WHEREAS, the new Hospice benefit for Medicare patients has unrealistically low cost caps which will defeat the whole concept of Hospice care at home because patients will be unnecessarily readmitted to the hospital due to lack of support services at home or will be forced to pay for service; and

WHEREAS, the Reagan administration has supported cutbacks in some home health services causing patients to be caught in a bind between paying for nursing home care, paying for services at home or more likely living in an unhealthy and unsafe situation in their home:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers/Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals opposes continued compromise of the nation's health care at the expense of those who can least afford it and works to prevent good health care from becoming a privilege rather than a right to all; and

RESOLVED, that AFT specifically opposes increased Medicare deductibles, increased Medicare B premiums, and co-insurance for Medicare A; and

RESOLVED, that AFT cooperates with other labor, social and public groups in seeking alternate methods of financing health care for the elderly which will encourage appropriate use of health services and which do not discourage timely attention to health needs.