The April 1973 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin focuses on the critical state of public hospitals in the U.S., particularly in California, where many county hospitals are facing closure due to financial strains exacerbated by Medicaid cutbacks. The article highlights the shifting burden of healthcare costs back to local governments as federal support wanes, with private hospitals increasingly refusing to accept low-income patients. Notable discussions include the implications of the 1972 Airlie House Conference on Public Hospitals and the ongoing struggles in cities like Chicago and San Francisco to maintain public healthcare access amidst privatization pressures. The issue emphasizes the need for grassroots organizing to preserve public hospitals as essential healthcare providers for low-income communities.
The July-August 1977 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin focuses on New York's ongoing struggle with hospital cost controls, highlighting the state's attempts to cut excess hospital beds as a response to rising healthcare costs. The article 'Politics Makes Strange Beds' discusses the ineffectiveness of the Certificate of Need legislation and the introduction of prospective reimbursement policies, which have not successfully reduced overall healthcare expenditures. Additionally, the Lahey Clinic's battle to expand into the suburbs is featured, illustrating the tension between urban healthcare needs and suburban expansion. The issue reflects broader national trends in healthcare policy during a time of fiscal crisis and rising costs.