News From our Members

My View: Access to health care is a life-and-death issue for cancer patients

OPINION By Sandra Cassese

Would you recognize the face of the uninsured in America? It’s the 22-year-old recent college graduate who is no longer covered under a parent’s insurance plan, the 45-year-old professional who is between jobs and cannot afford high-priced continuation coverage, the single parents who can get government-backed insurance for their kids but make just too much salary to qualify themselves.

America’s broken health-care system is one of the largest obstacles to achieving victory over cancer. The people who need it most — nearly 46 million uninsured people — lack early and ongoing access to our nation’s health-care system, which studies have shown leads to poorer cancer outcomes. The failings of our health-care system directly contribute to needless suffering and death from cancer, which will kill an estimated 35,000 people this year in New York state. According to a recent Fiscal Policy Institute report, there were more than 46,000 nonelderly uninsured individuals in Orange County alone in 2006.

Fighting cancer is hugely expensive and can mean financial catastrophe for families with or without insurance. Almost half of uninsured cancer patients use up all or most of their savings fighting the disease. One in 5 patients who have insurance will face financial ruin in their battle with cancer. High costs and inadequate insurance policies cause nearly one-third of patients to skip or delay treatment for cancer.

Since lack of or inadequate health-care coverage has such a large impact on cancer survival rates and quality of life for those with cancer, the American Cancer Society is educating the public about the severity of the health-care crisis and its impact on real people. In the aftermath of a remarkable election, we need to make sure that health-care reform remains a top priority for the incoming administration. I challenge President-elect Obama to maintain the extraordinary level of commitment needed to push access to health-care reform over the finish line. Visit www.acscan.org to review where the presidents and newly elected state officials stand on cancer issues.

Cancer is potentially the most preventable and the most treatable of all life-threatening diseases. We have made tremendous progress in the fight against cancer, but we know not everyone is benefiting equally from those advances. Too many cancer patients are being diagnosed too late, when treatment is harder and more expensive and has less chance of saving lives. Screening tests and treatment that improves quality of life must be available to all.

Answers may be found in the private sector, the public sector or some combination of the two. The objective of the American Cancer Society’s public education efforts is not to propose a specific solution, it is to help define what the country needs and to encourage an open, productive dialogue about how to achieve it. Americans deserve access to health-care coverage that is adequate to meet their needs, affordable, available when they need it and administratively simple. The American Cancer Society will continue to fund groundbreaking cancer research, raise awareness about prevention and early detection, and advocate for tobacco control measures and programs that provide screening and treatment to the underserved.

Hold local lawmakers and state legislators accountable for pre-election health-care proposals and promises. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network will continue to defend funding for breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment programs, as well as funding for tobacco control programs. By building on our progress against cancer while working toward real solutions to the nation’s health-care crisis, we can help ensure that everyone has a fighting chance against cancer.

Sandra Cassese is assistant vice president for oncology and ambulatory services at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie and the state lead ambassador for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

PEF joins hundreds at “Better Budget” rally

Albany-Members of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) carried signs that read “We’re All In This Together,” as they listened to speeches from groups concerned about how the state intends to close a growing multi-billion dollar budget gap.

Full Story: Better Budget

Fired day care workers fighting hard to get their jobs back

By Clare Trapasso

Workers at a chain of city-supported Queens day care centers who said they were fired after forming a union are fighting to get their jobs back.

But a company official denied they were let go due to union activities.

Annette Olivero and 17 other Books & Rattles workers said they were fired several weeks after about 90 workers voted to join the Communication Workers of America Local 1180 in May.

Union leaders meet with governor

Session on savings draws some optimism amid budget problems.

By Rick Karlin

Leaders of three major state employee unions met with Gov. David Paterson on Tuesday for what was described as a freewheeling discussion of how the state can save money to deal with its growing budget deficit.

Union leaders say they are cautiously optimistic after the meeting, in which the governor did not broach the issue of layoffs or of reopening labor contracts.

“It was actually a very productive, beneficial meeting,” said Kenneth Brynien, president of the Public Employees Federation, which attended the meeting along with reprsentatives from the Civil Service Employees Association and the Organization of Management/Confidential Employees.

“The governor is really trying to find ways to fix the crisis we are in,” added Brynien.

“It was actually a very productive, beneficial meeting,” added Stephen Madarasz, spokesman for CSEA.

Among the cost-saving suggestions: increased telecommuting, which could allow heat and light savings in some buildings and cutbacks on the use of outside consultants. Union members have long complained the state spends too much on consultants rather than having employees perform some tasks, although others have said consultants can provide flexibility.

Regardless of the outcome, Brynien said he was heartened by what he viewed as Paterson’s apparent willingness to look at all and any cost savings.

“He used the phrase, ‘There are no sacred cows,’ ” Brynien said.

Paterson’s office is also fielded visits from advocacy and other interest groups who, as a special Nov. 18 legislative session is approaches, are anxious to avoid cuts to their programs.

Paterson has said the current year’s deficit could hit $2 billion, and next year’s could hit $10 billion.

New York City Construction Spending Forecast to Reach $33.8 Billion in 2008 and $93 Billion over Three Years, According to New York Building Congress Construction Outlook

Continued Strength May Be Seen in all Building Sectors Through 2009;
Economic Downturn Creates Uncertainty for 2010 and Beyond

NEW YORK, October 14, 2008 – For the second time this decade, New York City’s construction industry has proven its resilience while helping to bolster a struggling local economy, according to New York City Construction Outlook 2008-2010, an annual forecast and analysis prepared by the New York Building Congress. The report was released today at a Construction Industry Forum featuring New York City Planning Commission Chair Amanda M. Burden and New York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky.