1199SEIU members from Maryland and New York converged on the Capitol on December 11 to urge members of Congress to reject cuts to Medicare and Medicaid under deficit-reduction talks. The massive lobbying effort came amid actions across the nation demanding jobs, not cuts to essential programs.“I am calling on Steny Hoyer not to compromise quality healthcare for patients and seniors in his District,” said Gail Kingman, an RN from LaPlata, Maryland. Kingman and other 1199SEIU members fear that proposed cuts to Medicare would harm teaching hospitals. Also at risk of large funding cuts are Maryland’s safety net hospitals, which serve the state’s most vulnerable communities.1199SEIU members also expressed concern that further cuts to Medicare reimbursements for Maryland’s nursing homes would lead to dangerously short staffing in already financially-strapped facilities.“We came here to let Congress know that any cuts to Medicare and Medicaid will have consequences, and under-funding affects patient care. For nursing home staff, there are only so many hours in a work day. Any time staffing is cut it burdens the rest of us, making it harder for us to provide the level of care seniors need,” explained Monica Jones, a Certified Nursing Assistant from Baltimore, MD.- See more at: http://www.1199seiu.org/maryland_dc_maryland_1199ers_visit_congress_urge_against_healthcare_cuts#sthash.ESLceHIv.dpuf