LA leaders say budget cuts will hurt health care

http://www.sfgate.com

(06-19) 16:19 PDT Los Angeles, CA (AP) —

Los Angeles leaders are calling on state lawmakers to nix Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed cuts to county health care.

County supervisor Gloria Molina says long waits at emergency rooms are endangering lives, and that further cuts will cause a bigger crisis.

Fifteen hospitals in the region have closed since 2000.

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said if the cuts go through, more emergency rooms will close and insurance premiums and medical bills will go up for everyone.

The nonprofit group LA Health Action says the proposed cuts will cost the county’s health care system nearly $50 million, and about 60,000 children will lose health care coverage.

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