Editorial: Sch'dy clinic needs booster Thursday, May 14, 2009
The $15,000 the Schenectady City Council approved for the Free Health Clinic the other night was about enough to keep the service going for a week. That’s better than nothing, but the clinic is going to have find a substantial amount of money somewhere to stay open, and it would be bad news for the city and county if it closed. With the exception of a paid administrator, the 6-year-old downtown Schenectady clinic is staffed entirely by volunteers. Most of its $750,000 annual budget is used to buy prescription drugs, which help keep its 2,500-odd patients healthy and out of emergency rooms. While the clinic has gotten money from a variety of places over the years, the state was always a component — contributing $200,000 or more from a Department of Health discretionary fund until Eliot Spitzer discontinued the practice, and $329,000 last year, thanks to a member item from Sen. Hugh Farley. But the state budget got tighter this year, of course, and the state hasn’t provided anything — yet. The federal stimulus package made extra money available for the state, and the clinic has applied for a $400,000 grant. Unfortunately, the city’s state lawmakers — Farley, James Tedisco and George Amedore — are all members of the minority party, so it will be up to Democrats like Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton, county Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage and, yes, even Rep. Paul Tonko, to lobby the governor for help. They should, because the clinic needs it, and both the city and county need the clinic to care for people too poor to pay for their own medical care but not too poor for Medicaid...............>>>>.....http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/may/14/514_printt/
Schenectady Free Clinic could close due to lack of funds Saturday, June 27, 2009 By Michael Lamendola (Contact) Gazette Reporter
SCHENECTADY — The Schenectady Free Clinic is in danger of closing next month because of a lack of operating funds, clinic officials said. “We are totally broke,” said Peggy VanDeloo, a nurse who has volunteered at the clinic since it opened six years ago. Dr. Arnold Ritterband, who helped found the clinic and volunteers there, confirmed the prognosis. “We certainly need to get assurance of money in a month or two or we will close. I do not see any other alternative,” he said. The clinic has a budget of $750,000 but has only raised about $40,000 to date for operations. The city provided $15,000 and the county $25,000, with another $25,000 promised, Ritterband said. The state provided $300,000 in funding to the clinic in the past but is not doing so this year, Ritterband said. “We have no idea why they denied our grant. We have made repeated attempts to talk to state Health Department officials, and they have not returned phone calls,” he said. The Health Department did not return a call for comment to The Daily Gazette. Ritterband said the bulk of the clinic’s budget is used to purchase prescription drugs for patients, as the clinic is staffed primarily by volunteer doctors, nurses and other medical professionals and receives free ancillary service from Ellis Hospital and other medical specialists in the community. Ritterband said the clinic sees about 3,000 people annually, many with chronic medical conditions that require long-term monitoring, as well as people with mental health issues...........>>>>..........>>>>............http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/jun/27/0627_clinic/
So read these two articles. One says they treat 2500 people while the other says 3,000! One says the state gives them $329,000 and another says $300,000. Now simple math will tell us that there is a discrepancy of 500 people and $29,000!!!! Which is it?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
So read these two articles. One says they treat 2500 people while the other says 3,000! One says the state gives them $329,000 and another says $300,000. Now simple math will tell us that there is a discrepancy of 500 people and $29,000!!!! Which is it?
It's obvious...whichever will get you to send the higher donation.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
You expect fact checking at the Gazetto? It is whatever they make up. Only question bloggers on their veracity and sources?
This also shows the stupidity of Son of Sam and his KRAT rubber stamps. They waste MILLIONS on relocating Bethesda House-that should have been closed. Now they are on Central State but lack homeless to house. Only in Schenectady. Nobody has the sense to say-shut it down.
They refuse to sue NE Parent and Child for the arson of their "students" burning Brandywine School to the ground. Then they have no funds for the excellent Free Medical Clinic that is saving taxpayers MILLIONS on patients that would be dumped into Ellis Hospital. When you continually waste taxpayer money-there is nothing for an excellent nonprofit that actually does something positive.
All non-profits, which is nothing more than an arm of the government, should be investigated. Talk about our tax dollars....just take agander at how much money these so called non-profits from the government. (OUT TAX DOLLARS)
And to add insult to injury, obama wants to tax our health care for yet more money!!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Re June 27 article, “Free clinic could close due to lack of funds”: I am writing in regard to the imminent closing of the Schenectady Free Health Clinic, which I am very much opposed to and disagree with. I am extremely upset over this and feel the city and state should help out with funding, especially the state, since they have not made any contribution toward helping to keep it open. Instead they are playing their silly games and getting paid, thinking only of themselves and not the people. I have been a patient at the clinic for four years. If the clinic closes, I will not be able to get the medical care and medications I need. I am a diabetic and have high blood pressure, among other medical issues. Since I have no health insurance and do not qualify for Medicaid, how am I suppose to survive? The hospital emergency room is not the answer. I have the upmost respect for the clinic’s director, Bill Spolyar, the physicians and all of the volunteers. They are very dedicated, friendly and helpful to all of us.
Well, I wonder how much of a donation Ms. Manning has made to the clinic. She states that she does not qualify for Medicaid, which means that she has some sort of income. Maybe she (and others like her) should at least pay some of the bill and help to keep the clinic open a while longer.
Re June 27 article, “Free clinic could close due to lack of funds”: I find it very hard to believe that with all the attention on health care at the federal, state and local levels, no one is coming forward to help the wonderful selfless people. The totally volunteer medical staff, who go above and beyond what should be expected of them, have no one to come forward and give the financial aid that is needed. Promises have been made, especially by government, but no one seems to keep their word. As a patient of the clinic, I find myself wondering: What will I do if they close this clinic? I am employed, but cannot afford private insurance, and “make too much” to get any organizational aid. With more and more people losing their jobs and medical coverage daily, what are we going to do? I know many of us need them very much for our well being. Maybe someone will step forward and do a fund-raiser, or one of the many radio stations can work their magic. Please, someone, help!
Re Carl Strock’s July 12 column, “Free clinic looks for life support”: So let me understand this. The Schenectady Free Health Clinic may be forced to close because it can’t get $400,000 in funding from the state. That’s the same state that wants to give $3 million to Sen. Pedro Espada’s own Bronx not-forprofit; and I’ve read he personally draws $400,000 per year from it! Other than the director, all medical services provided at the Schenectady free clinic are on a volunteer basis, except for drugs, which are advanced by the generous Price Chopper Pharmacy. Sen. Hugh Farley, you are my senator! I challenge you to explain to me and all of your other constituents, how this can be. And please don’t waste our time responding in “politicalese” by explaining how the controller is currently withholding Sen. Espada’s money. Instead, explain to us the moral and ethical aspects of this travesty.
Gerald DeAngelus’ July 15 letter in support of the Schenectady Free Clinic was deadly accurate and most welcome. It is indeed a travesty that, while the Schenectady Free Clinic struggles for survival, Sen. [Pedro] Espada arranged a $400,000 salary for himself for managing a “not-for-profit” medical clinic in his Bronx home district. He is also seeking $3 million in state support for that clinic, which has been cited repeatedly for “irregular” financial activities. Mr. Espada is innocent unless proven guilty. If proven guilty, he probably belongs in jail, rather than serving as Senate majority leader — either Republican or Democratic. However, Mr. DeAngelus has pointed a finger at our own Sen. Hugh Farley, and called on him for a moral and ethical explanation for the Senate’s behavior. He’s got the wrong man. Sen. Farley has been a strong supporter of the Schenectady Free Clinic in every way. He is also a good, ethical and decent man. Knowing what I do about him, I suspect that he is as upset and concerned about the circus-like activities of the state Senate as we are.
Arnold B. Ritterband, M.D. Niskayuna The writer is a retired internist and co-medical director of the Schenectady Free Clinic.
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You expect fact checking at the Gazetto? It is whatever they make up. Only question bloggers on their veracity and sources? 
