The University Board of Regents' meeting today may be noisier than most.
Citizens for Quality Health Care, a consortium of groups concerned about nationwide changes in the medical field, plans to mobilize supporters for its cause at a rally outside of the Fleming Administration Building as the regents gather inside for their monthly meeting.
The group, which will protest job cuts and demand the preservation of quality health care at University Hospitals, is made up of representatives from the University Medical Center, Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice, League of Women Voters and local unions.
"We are rallying because of the changes in the University of Michigan Health Care Center," said Frank Williams, chief steward of the University Skilled Trades Union. "We want to establish dialogue and establish solutions with the regents to make sure the quality of health care is not diminished."
The group objects to a three-year plan to reduce the Medical Center's budget by $200 million. Last year, in the first stage of the plan, the Medical Center underwent $60 million in cuts. The next set of reductions will likely be brought before the regents within the next few months.
Williams said he hopes the people who will be affected by the changes in the Medical Center will have their voices heard.
"We hope to make the regents as aware as the rest of the community," Williams said. "We want to make sure that citizens and employees are part of the decision-making process."
Regent Daniel Horning (R-Grand Haven) said the issue weighs heavily on the board.
"There have been concerns expressed at public comments," Horning said. "That is obviously going to be a topic of discussion and concern for the regents."
The group planned the rally to coincide with the Medical Center's annual comparative statistics report, which is scheduled to be presented at the meeting.
The report compares the Medical Center against peer institutions around the nation using key financial statistics, said Medical Center Chief Financial Officer Dave Seflow.
"The report says we have a fairly strong finances and have a good revenue as compared to other highly-rated institutions," Seflow said. "But it also says that our operating margins are not as high as other hospitals. We need to do some focusing on that."
The Michigan Student Assembly also is scheduled to give its biannual report for the regents at today's meeting.
MSA President Mike Nagrant said today's presentation will give the assembly a chance to outline its concern of making education affordable to everyone.
"It's a wonderful opportunity," Nagrant said. "I'm looking forward to it."