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Obama's budget proposal could mean tough cuts for Medicare patients

A group representing hundreds of hospitals and nursing homes across the state says Medicare patients would suffer under President Obama's budget proposal. 

According to the Health Care Association of New York State, the President's spending plan released last week would cut Medicare by  $370 billion.

"We're concerned. The President's budget proposal could effectively shatter local healthcare delivery in many regions of the state," said Melissa Mansfield, HANY's Public Relations Manager.

Mansfield said the proposed cuts are on top the $155 billion eliminated from Medicare under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

"These cuts to New York State hospitals would be even greater than those imposed by the sequestration cuts that just happened a little over a month ago," said Mansfield.

President Obama's spending plan will likely undergo many changes on Capital Hill before it's voted on.

Mansfield points out since 2000, the state has lost nearly three dozen hospitals and more than 70 nursing homes.

The Hospital Association will be working aggressively with the State's Congressional delegation to fight the proposed cuts and any other similar proposals that could hurt healthcare services across the state.