This, as the program is slated to end on September 30, after 16 years of service.
“It’s heartbreaking, it’s outrageous. We’re angry and sad that our institution where we pour our heart and soul into taking care of our patients and our community would consider cutting what is a vital service,” said Erin Carrera, RN of the California Nurses Association.
According to CNA, 56 positions will be lost when the program ends in September, however, it does not compare to the thousands of patients who will lose out on services.
In a statement from UCSF, the program faced difficulty in financial stability, citing how reimbursement from insurers could not keep up with costs of the program. UCSF also cited how they decided to shift financial resources toward education since they are an academic medical center.
The nurses say that UCSF can easily support the program because its revenues have gone up in the past five years.
“Health care should be a right, not a privilege and we should be putting patients…patient care before profits, simple as that,” said Carrera.
San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim stood with the nurses calling for the need for more health care for the medically under-served.
“This program keeps costs down and also provides equal sharing between our private sector and our public sector to serve our entire community,” said Kim.
According to UCSF health, current patients will be assisted in finding appropriate providers for their home care needs and that the program employees will also be assisted in finding positions within or outside UCSF.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
