New York City's public hospital system to cut jobs and programs

New York City's public hospital system has announced that it was cutting 400 jobs and closing some children's mental-health programs, pharmacies, and community clinics that serve more than 11,000 patients. Alan D. Aviles, president of the city's Health and Hospitals Corporation, blamed reductions in state Medicaid reimbursement, a sharp increase in uninsured patients and the rising cost of labor, drugs, and medical supplies for the cuts. He warned that he would probably announce further job and service cuts in a month or two. The hospitals face a looming $316 million budget shortfall for the coming fiscal year, and the current plan would save $105 million.