Commack Nursing Home Employees Sign Petition Against Approving Healthcare Repeal Bill

Employees at the Gurwin Jewish Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Commack recently signed a petition and letters to prevent the passing of the current healthcare repeal bill.

The employees signed an oversized appeal, as well as individual letters to Representatives. Lee Zeldin (R-NY1), Peter King (R-NY2), and other members of the House of Representatives from across New York, urging them to vote “No” on the bill.

The local employees are protesting against approving the bill because they felt that it would increase the number of uninsured by 23 million people and force cuts at the State level that would mean fewer services for older and disabled Americans.

“We are not opposed to change. But slashing Medicaid without a plan in place to care for those who will be devastatingly affected is wrong,” Stuart Almer, Administrator/COO for Gurwin Jewish said. “Across the country, a majority of nursing home residents receive Medicaid benefits; we need a plan in place to care for them before we take what they depend on away. Cuts to reimbursement may cause some facilities to decrease staff or eliminate services; that won’t be good for anyone.”

At Gurwin Jewish Nursing and Rehabilitation Center,over 85 percent of long-term residents receive Medicaid assistance.

According to employees at the nursing home, reductions in benefits could potentially shut down the critical services that are a lifeline for many of Long Island’s most vulnerable citizens, and cost tens of thousands of jobs on Long Island and nationwide.

“How can they vote for something that will hurt so many people? Are they even thinking about us?” Adele Danon, a Gurwin resident who served as a Naval Nursing Cadet during World War II said. “I have a daughter, but I can’t expect her to take care of me. If we don’t have long-term care facilities, who will take care of us? Where are we supposed to go?”