Hospital groups urge Congress to delay Medicaid DSH cuts

Nine national hospital organizations, including the AHA, today urged Congress to continue to delay cuts to hospitals that serve a disproportionate share of Medicaid and uninsured patients. “Unfortunately, the coverage rates envisioned under the [Affordable Care Act] have not been fully realized, and tens of millions of Americans remain uninsured,” the organizations said in a letter to House and Senate members. “In addition, Medicaid underpayment continues to pose ongoing financial challenges for hospitals treating our nation’s most vulnerable citizens. Congress recognized the need for the Medicaid DSH program to continue to be fully funded by delaying the start of the cuts over the past four years. We urge that you once again delay the start of the Medicaid DSH cuts given the vital need for the program to continue fully funded.” Reps. Eliot Engel (D-NY), John Culberson (R-TX) and Steven Palazzo (R-MS) are circulating a bipartisan letter asking congressional leaders to postpone the cuts for at least two more years.