Hospitals thought losing hundreds of billions in Medicaid funding through GOP-led cuts last year was bad. But coming regulations from the Trump administration could slash their funding even deeper than Congress did.
Two recently proposed rules from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would cost hospitals hundreds of billions of dollars more, hospital executives told POLITICO. The rules, which target taxes states use to get more federal Medicaid dollars — and which yield higher payments to hospitals — have prompted hospitals to launch another major lobbying blitz after record spending last year.
"Our core message to CMS is to stick to the statute. Congress cut enough," said Robert Nelb, director of policy at America's Essential Hospitals, which represents hospitals serving large Medicaid populations.
"There's no need to cut any more out of the Medicaid system at a time when the safety net is really struggling," Nelb added.
If the rules are finalized and they lose hundreds of billions on top of Congress' funding cuts, hospitals say they'll be forced to reduce services, lay off workers, consolidate operations or shutter entirely. Some systems are already doing so, telling POLITICO they've cut staff, ended contracts and slashed hospital beds in response to predicted losses.
#congress
Two recently proposed rules from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would cost hospitals hundreds of billions of dollars more, hospital executives told POLITICO. The rules, which target taxes states use to get more federal Medicaid dollars — and which yield higher payments to hospitals — have prompted hospitals to launch another major lobbying blitz after record spending last year.
"Our core message to CMS is to stick to the statute. Congress cut enough," said Robert Nelb, director of policy at America's Essential Hospitals, which represents hospitals serving large Medicaid populations.
"There's no need to cut any more out of the Medicaid system at a time when the safety net is really struggling," Nelb added.
If the rules are finalized and they lose hundreds of billions on top of Congress' funding cuts, hospitals say they'll be forced to reduce services, lay off workers, consolidate operations or shutter entirely. Some systems are already doing so, telling POLITICO they've cut staff, ended contracts and slashed hospital beds in response to predicted losses.
#congress
2 months ago
