ICYMI: Arizona nurses 'overwhelmed' amid health care service cuts

TUCSON — Arizona nurses are seeing first hand the impact of higher costs and stingier care for Arizona patients.

In the last year, prices have gone up across the board in large part because of the Republican Tax Law and tariffs. Congressman Juan Ciscomani voted in favor of both cost-raising policies.

According to Public News Service:

Arizona nurses are feeling the brunt of changes to accessible and affordable healthcare.

The federal budget stripped some low-income Arizonans of traditionally available services, causing more patients to use emergency rooms as their first option for care. The stories of people trying to afford health care run the gamut: Put food on the table, or go to the doctor? Go to work sick, or take a pay hit for staying home?

Healthcare workers cited stories of diabetic patients forced to ration insulin and blood pressure medications, choosing basic survival over optimal health.

Serina Martinez, Tucson-based president of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, said the changes in healthcare access and affordability are hitting the elderly population especially hard.

"We've seen a lot of them come in related to falls because they're not taking their medications properly or very emaciated because they can't afford groceries," Martinez observed.

“Arizonans's health care is put at risk because of rising costs and cuts to health care,” said Andrea Moreno, Executive Director of Honest Arizona. “Congressman Ciscomani needs to put the health of his constituents ahead of tax breaks for billionaires.”

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