Ebony Rose Fights for Patients Amid Health Care Challenges in Buffalo

Healthcare Concerns Rise at Erie County Medical Center Amid Policy Changes

At the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, New York, staff and patients are facing significant challenges due to recent healthcare policy changes. Ebony Rose, a discharge planner with 17 years of experience and a section president in Local 815 of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)/AFSCME Local 1000, voices her concerns about the impact of these changes on her community.

Rose highlights the difficulties arising from the potential expiration of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, which currently help millions afford healthcare. She states, “My number one concern is the patients. The cost of the ACA premiums is going to increase, which means that people who could previously afford them won’t be able to anymore.” For more information on the potential impacts, visit this link.

The looming expiration of these credits could lead to a 114% increase in premiums, significantly affecting Rose's patients. This financial burden is compounded by proposed Medicaid cuts, part of a larger legislative measure known as the “Big, Beautiful Bill.” Rose fears that without adequate insurance, many will turn to the ECMC emergency room for primary care needs.

“We are a safety net hospital, which means we don’t shut our doors to anyone,” Rose emphasizes, underscoring ECMC's commitment to serving everyone, regardless of their financial status. Such dedication is essential as the healthcare facility braces for potential staffing challenges due to the policy shifts.

Staff at ECMC, including licensed practical nurses, emergency room technicians, social workers, and physical therapists, are at risk of layoffs and hiring freezes. Rose states, “We are already facing layoffs and hiring freezes. We haven’t lost anybody yet, but we were notified two months ago that if we could not get funding, we would be facing the loss of staff members.”

The hospital administration and workers are united in their efforts to address these issues. Rose mentions, “I meet with hospital leadership every month, and we talk about what’s happening. What gives us hope and what makes us scared. Our CEO is out there pounding pavement as much as we are, trying to make sure our employees and patients are well cared for.”

Amidst the federal government shutdown, Rose hopes for a resolution that will prompt Congress to negotiate on healthcare provisions, potentially averting the adverse effects of ACA subsidy expirations and Medicaid cuts. “The goal is always to make sure we have elected officials who are pro-labor and pro-community,” she asserts, expressing the need for bipartisan support towards community-oriented healthcare policies.