Queens Parents Fighting Clinic Closings 

The Queens coordinator also rapped the Health & Hospitals Corp. for publishing "elaborate and expensive annual reports instead of using those funds to provide needed health care for children."
In northwest Queens the clinics located in public schools include P.S. 14, 107-01 Otis Ave, Corona; I.S. 145, 33-34 80 St., Jackson Heights; P.S. 7, 80-05 Cornish Ave., Elmhurst; Long Island City High School, 1430 Broadway, Long Island City; and P.S. 220, 52-10 108 St., Forest Hills.
City Councilman Sheldon S. Leffler said he was "disturbed" by the plans to cut clinic services.
Another critic of the closings, Hiram Monserrate of Corona, a community activist and candidate for the City Council from the 21st District, expressed concern over the HHC plans.
"Ironically, the HHC mission is to provide health care services to New Yorkers regardless of their insurance status, but all the health sites planned for closure in Queens will have a direct negative impact on the children of low income."
In all, the HHC seeks to close 12 extension clinics and 15 school-based clinics in the City. "The closings," Monserrate said, "are all for the purpose of balancing out this years budget." The proposed closings that would especially hurt uninsured poor children drew a protest outside City Hall last week.
Political leaders said they would fight the closings and appeal to Governor George Pataki for a reprieve.
A spokesperson for the Health and Hospitals Corp. said the clinics had a budget deficit of $300 million.
HHC said the deficit was due to rising costs and a sharp increase in uninsured patients, combined with inadequate state and federal reimbursement rates.
The HHC seeks approval from the State Health Dept. which has 90 days to consider the request, according to DOH spokesperson, John Signor.