When Governor Eliot Spitzer unveiled his 2007-08 executive budget, Assemblyman Joe Giglio (R,I,C-Gowanda) expressed reserved support saying, “On the surface, the budget includes many initiatives I have been calling for, but we need to examine it in greater detail to see exactly how the governor’s proposals affect property tax relief, education, reform, and health care.”

Upon further review of the governor’s budget, Giglio has raised concerns over the amount of funding made available to hospitals and nursing homes. Statewide, the proposed budget would cut nursing home reimbursement by approximately $464 million annually. Hospitals stand to lose nearly $600 million.

“I have received dozens of phone calls from citizens who are concerned about the impact of this budget on the Southern Tier’s health care system,” said Giglio. “I am looking at every option available to ensure the hospitals and nursing homes that so many of our region’s citizens rely on are able to continue providing the quality care we have come to expect.”

Nursing homes in Giglio’s 149th Assembly District stand to lose nearly $1.8 million in funding compared to one year ago. Hospitals in the region face cuts totaling approximately $28 million.

“As I said before, we cannot blindly embrace the governor’s budget without careful examination of what areas it will deeply impact,” said Giglio. “We need to understand why these cuts have been proposed and ensure our citizens’ quality health care is not impacted in a negative way during our budget negotiations with the governor.”