Union protests closing of Mattina health center

By Allison Dunckle, Ariel Hofher and Sharvonne Williams

Bengal News Reporters

Union protesters at the Mattina health center

                  The gloomy and dismal afternoon of April 4 matched the mood of hundreds of protesting union members, health care employees and West Side residents who weathered the storm to get their voices heard.

                  The public outcry was directed toward Kaleida Health, a large non-profit Western New York health care provider that recently decided to shut down the Judge Joseph S. Mattina Community Health Center, an important medical facility and resource for West Side residents. Budget cuts, federal health reforms and loss of revenue.  have left Kaleida unable to continue to provide services at the center’s 300 Niagara St. location.  The decision to close was not warmly embraced within the community.   

                  “Kaleida Health has been less than honest in the plans for this clinic,” said John E. Klein, president of the CWA Local 1168. “This is the fourth time in four years that they have tried to close. We feel that they have lied to politicians, patients and the community.”

                  The Northwest Buffalo Community Health Center is expected to take over Kaleida’s ownership of the health center with an emphasis on stronger primary care services, according to a press release provided by Michael Hughes, vice president for Marketing, Public Relations and Government Affairs at Kaleida Health.  According to the release, Northwest will provide mental health and substance abuse services as well as other primary and preventive care to patients of all ages and incomes. 

 Ellicott District Councilmember Darius Pridgen speaks about concern over new ownership of the Mattina health center:

                  However, Klein said that Kaleida has not been upfront with their dealings with Northwest to take over the clinic.

                   “Up until a month ago, they denied that there was any plan, but internal paperwork shows they were working on it for several months,” he said

                  Cori Gambini, a registered nurse and executive vice president of the CWA Local 1168, does not expect Northwest will be as accommodating for lower-income West Side patients as Kaleida.

                   “(Northwest) doesn’t see walk-ins, and at least 40 patients a day are walk ins,” she said.  “These patients need quick access to care. They have to have insurance to be able to get services at Northwest.”                  

                  Klein said that Kaleida has also closed over a dozen clinics within the last four years that serve “a high Medicaid cliental.”

                  “This area needs more services than we currently have and I feel in the short term

this will not be good for the West Side residents,” Klein said.                  

                  Marsha Wells, registered nurse at Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital, was one of the protestors who hoped the rally would “raise awareness… mostly of how bad closing this particular (health center) is going to effect Buffalo and the people who live here.”                  

                  According to Wells, at least 50 of the 200 employees of the health center will lose their jobs, and those who stay will be knocked down from full time to part time per diem at with reduced pay and benefits.

                  “This is a real loss for the community,” she said.

No contract, firefighters cover own health

By Paul Kasprzak and Chris Koss
Bengal News Reporters

When the alarm sounds inside the firehouse of Engine 19, a flurry of activity begins as the firefighters rush onto Forest Avenue. They reach the scene on the West Side, running into a burning building to beat back the roaring inferno.

They attack the flames from inside, trying their best to keep damage minimal; of course fire is an unpredictable and uncontrollable animal. Firefighters like the ones on Engine 19 take risks few others are asked to take.

“If a firefighter is injured on duty, the City of Buffalo is responsible for his medical coverage, his doctor bills, everything,” said Daniel Cunningham, the Buffalo Professional Firefighters Association Local 282 representative. “Unfortunately, in this business sometimes your health degenerates and you can’t pinpoint it to a certain injury.”

Cunningham said that until a contract is negotiated and consummated, the City of Buffalo is responsible for every 282 Firefighters Union member who changes to the 901 plan, including their co-pays and premiums.

This will cost the City of Buffalo more money to keep putting off negotiations with the fire department. However, Cunningham said that if the City of Buffalo was to sit and negotiate they would more than likely go back to what the contract called for before.

“We do a different job than white collar workers, we do a different job than the streets workers. (In) the history of the City of Buffalo, fire and police have always had better health coverage,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham has urged firefighters to change from basic health plans they may be on, to the premium 901 plan offered by the city in order to get better coverage. Firefighters declined comment because a gag order was issued. 

“The 901 traditional health care plan, the most expensive health care plan, is the best plan that’s available out there,” Cunningham said.

Firefighters currently have three plans to choose from, all provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield. There are two basic level plans; the 201 and 201 plus. The 901 plan is the higher-level plan.

“The 201 plan restricts what doctors you can go to. You have to get permission to go see another doctor. (With) 901, you are unlimited to who you can go to,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham said that a judge awarded firefighters free health insurance from the City of Buffalo, however, firefighters are currently paying their own costs with the expectation of being paid back once a new agreement is reached. This was awarded in 2004 after the city dropped to one health care provider.

            Any new firefighters             would have to pay a percentage of their health care costs. Cunningham said that new firefighters pay 25 percent if they are single and 15 percent if they are married for the basic 201 plan.

Over time firefighters pay less and less. If they upgrade to the 901 plan, however, they must pay a percentage again until they have reached a certain number of years on the job.

            “Municipalities are like other employers, they are feeling the crunch of health care costs, and many of them are looking to trim down the number of options that are being offered to their employees,” said Leslie Moran, senior vice president of New York Health Plan Association. 

In 2004, the City of Buffalo forced firefighters to accept one health care provider, which was Blue Cross Blue Shield. Prior to the change they had the option of choosing between four companies: Univera Healthcare, Independent Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

            “Every member of local 282 is entitled to if they wish to take the most expensive plan, for free of course,” Cunningham said. “Unjustly the city is charging them.”

Councilmen David Rivera and Darius Pridgen were unavailable for comment on the issue.

 Edited by Mike Chiari and Tim Daniels