Faced with federal cuts that slashed billions annually from public healthcare, state legislators touted $250 million Monday in funding to help salvage California’s public hospital system. But Santa Clara County expects only $20 million to $30 million from this funding against a projected $1 billion loss, while other counties continue to grapple with the fallout from the cuts.
Officials called the funding a first step but warned that billions more would be needed to prevent service reductions, longer waits and diminished access to care.
“We still remain on a collision course with millions of Californians losing their healthcare next year … We will continue to fight. This is just one investment of the many that are needed,” said California State Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens, who serves on the Health Committee and was a key proponent of the state investments, at a press conference celebrating the funding. “This is not a fight that we asked for, but it’s a fight we will win.”…