NH woman says health budget cut could kill her

[okarol]

NH woman says health budget cut could kill her

Associated Press - February 20, 2009 12:55 PM ET

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - A Hillsborough woman says 1 of Gov. John Lynch's proposed budget cuts might kill her.

Judy Dufield gets about $170 per month from the state Catastrophic Illness Program. The program provides funding for low-income patients with six conditions, including the late-term kidney disease plaguing Dufield. Lynch wants to eliminate the program, and Dufield says that could have devastating consequences, because she won't be able to come to Concord three times a week for dialysis.

About 1,000 patients are enrolled in the program. Associate Health Commissioner Nancy Rollins said her department would help patients look for other funding if the cut becomes law, and said charities could pick up the slack in many cases.

Lynch proposes eliminating the program as part of deep budget cuts and revenue increases to avert a shortfall of up to $500 million in the next 2-year budget.

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=9879037&nav=menu183_18_1_2