Pa. hospitals: Cut budget? Cut jobs

HARRISBURG - A Pennsylvania hospital association says 13,000 jobs are riding on the spending decisions of Gov. Rendell and legislators.

The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania warned Tuesday that those job losses will result if hospitals lose $280 million in funding.

Association president and CEO Carolyn Scanlan says the job losses would mean reduced access to trauma centers, burn centers, obstetrical and neonatal services, and more.

The state normally gives hundreds of millions to hospitals each year to help subsidize services and pay for care for the poor and uninsured.

But the recession has dragged the state into a $3 billion-plus deficit, leaving Rendell and legislators to consider deep budget cuts.

The state's new fiscal year begins Wednesday.