Monday, May 23 2011 11:42AM
Healthcare resources is a hot topic right now in Arizona, reports say.
Doctors and area residents discussed what's in store for the healthcare industry in the West Valley region of Arizona, according to the Arizona Republic, including the need for additional primary-care doctors.
The paper says medical experts and local residents convened at a regional conference to discuss changes the state will make to the Affordable Care Act, which was created in 2010.
After agreeing to federal funding cuts to provide increased coverage for state residents, Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association president Laurie Liles told the paper health facilities and other resources may diminish. The bargained reform of the bill will cut $1.8 billion in funding during the next decade, she added.
Rob Gould, chief executive of Banner Estrella Medical Center in Phoenix, told the newspaper he, as well as other doctors in the state, are unsure about the future of available resources and overall healthcare system - especially for rural communities.
"Nobody really has a clear picture where we're headed," he said.
The original terms of the Affordable Care Act stated it would increase funding for community health centers in the state. However, with budget cuts, that funding has been put on hold.