FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement attributable to:
Bruce Siegel, MD, MPH
President and CEO
America’s Essential Hospitals
WASHINGTON — With their vote today to repeal disastrous cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) funding, the bipartisan members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce demonstrated their commitment to protecting communities and ensuring all people have access to high-quality health care.
The committee’s action on DSH funding marks a significant step forward in efforts to save the safety net from a fiscal cliff Oct. 1, when a $4 billion DSH funding cut — a third of the program — is set to take effect.
We applaud Reps. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Greg Walden (R-OR), Michael Burgess (R-TX), Eliot Engel (D-NY), and Pete Olson (R-TX) for their leadership on this issue and recognition of the harm the DSH cuts would cause. We will continue to work with lawmakers on relief from the remaining DSH cuts.
We also thank Reps. Raul Ruiz (D-CA) and Larry Bucshon (R-IN) and their colleagues on the committee for including an independent dispute resolution process as a backstop for establishing provider payment rates in surprise billing legislation. We share the committee’s desire to protect patients from unexpected bills. We believe the inclusion of the independent dispute resolution is a step in the right direction to achieve that goal while ensuring sustainable provider payments.
America’s Essential Hospitals looks forward to additional House and Senate action to stop the Medicaid DSH cuts and protect access to vital health care services.
# # #
About America’s Essential Hospitals
America’s Essential Hospitals is the leading champion for hospitals and health systems dedicated to high-quality care for all, including the most vulnerable. We support our more than 300 members with advocacy, policy development, research, and education. Communities depend on essential hospitals to provide specialized, lifesaving services; train the health care workforce; advance public health and health equity; and coordinate care. Essential hospitals innovate and adapt to lead the way to more effective and efficient care. Learn more at essentialhospitals.org.
Contact:
Carl Graziano
cgraziano@essentialhospitals.org
202.585.0102
Author