By Patricia Maese, KFOX News at Nine Reporter

April 25, 2003--

Because of the giant deficit the state faces, the legislature is now proposing a five percent reduction in Medicaid funding, which means nursing facilities in El Paso would lose money. That has people worried it will create a void for the elderly.

Donna Von Gentz shares her unconditional friendship every day.

There's a lot of the residents that have been here or I have known them as the years go on because they've been here for several years, she says.

She works here at the Vista Hills Healthcare Center as a volunteer. For the past 14 years Donna has been coming in to sit and talk with elderly residents who live here.

These residents they are very dear to me and nobody but nobody better mistreat them, she says.

But with talks of cutbacks in the state legislature, there's concern that less money for nursing facilities will translate into less quality care for residents.

The fear here is that small facilities that are not as fortunate as our own facility they would have to end up filing bankruptcy-- like mom and pop facilities, says Vista Hills Healthcare Center administrator John Lawal.

As the administrator, he says his job is to always provide quality care no matter what, but with less money coming in from Medicaid, he says it will eventually create a shortage of nursing homes just like it did several years back.

Between 1998- and 2000 when we lost 25 percent of nursing facilities filing bankruptcy, he says.

And he says it is the elderly who will suffer.

"This is a very comfortable place. They treat us very well," says Vista Hills resident Francisco Villegas.

He moved in seven weeks ago. Because he suffers from diabetes, arthritis and high blood pressure he needs assistance around the clock.

Friday, with many of the other residents and staff here, they are signing a petition to make sure lawmakers in Austin know that any budget cuts will ultimately affect them all.

And remember someday you might be in an establishment such as a nursing home, said Von Gentz.

Lawal will be traveling to Austin May first to lobby against any budget cuts to Medicaid. The state legislature is currently proposing a five percent reduction in Medicaid funding to nursing homes. The Vista Hill Nursing Center is circulating a petition to collect almost 500 signatures to take to Austin. Officials will then present it to lawmakers there.