The respiratory therapist checks patients. (Photo Scott Olson/Getty Images)
The giant tax and expenses President Donald Trump signed the law on the weekend, covers The largest cuts for health care expenses In US history. In response, they try to protect their hospitals from the upcoming loss of hundreds of millions of federal funds.
In Georgia, Key panel of state at the end of last month He took steps to send more state money Medicaid to hospitals, hoping to maximize federal matching dollars against defects. Other states are considering modern subsidy programs that would send additional money to rural hospitals. Some legislators are probably discussing again to discuss the holes in Medicaid budgets.
Tax account and expenses lowers over $ 1 trillion From Medicaid, a public health insurance program for people with low income, which are jointly financed by you and the federal government. According to this measure, probably payments to hospitals or nursing facilities reduce at least 29 statesAccording to KFF analysis, non -profit of the health policy group.
In the face of such budget deficiencies, the state may be forced to stop offering optional MEDICID benefits, such as vision and dentist, reduce rates that pay suppliers – which can reduce access to registration in Medicaid – and change the requirements for eligibility so that less people qualify for protection.
State decision -makers and health experts are worried about the loss of financing will also threaten hospitals, especially those in rural areas, raising uncompensated care and forcing them to limit services or completely closing.
“Expensive and complicated”: Most rural hospitals no longer provide children
“Ultimately, when these hospitals are closing, what happens? People have to travel longer for care. They may not even go”, Dr. Anahita Dua, a vascular surgeon in Massachusetts General Hospital and Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, last week during a press conference organized by Defend America Actions, a group that warmed against politics. Administrative Trump.
“Ultimately, this will not only affect the lives of people who will not get care, but also on most hospitals that provide this care, and people employed by these locations,” she said.
At the beginning of this month, the analysis of the State Program of the Health Strategy and Values at the Princeton University estimated that hospitals would lose 18% of Medicaid funds, almost $ 665 billion in the next 10 years.
Republicans welcomed Megabill – officially entitled Big Beautiful Bill Act – as one that will reduce waste, fraud and abuse in federal programs, secure the US border and stimulate economic growth. The measure will be to add According to the Congress Budget Bureau, at least $ 3 trillion for domestic debt over the next decade, and some independent economists assessed the slight impact on growth. Dollars directed with Medicaid will be allocated to Trump’s priority reduction, along with modern expenses for immigration and defense control projects.
Reconnaissance of legislators
Health policy experts expect that at least some states will have to draw their legislators back to the session to break down budget openings due to Medicaid cuts.
Countries can expect a loss 3%-18% Their federal financing of Medicaid within 10 years in accordance with the law, in accordance with the report of the State Program of the Health Strategy and Values. Arizona, Kentucky and Virginia would see the largest actions of their dollars Medicaid.
Republicans manage a tax that maintains state medicaid programs
Colorado Democratic Governor Jared Polis he said He will probably submit the legislator again.
“Almost for sure, if some of these great cuts Medicaid pass … we would probably have to fold depending on what Congress is doing,” said the policy press conference in May.
Decision makers in some states tried to overtake the expected deficiencies.
At the end of June, the Advisory Board of the Social Health Department took place Emergency meeting. In a unanimous vote, the council approved several measures aimed at increasing the federal rate of reimbursement of Medicaid costs.
For example, the state wants to significantly enhance Medicaid payments to hospitals that achieve specific goals, such as training in Georgia and delivery of children. The transfer would decrease an additional $ 2.1 billion per year in federal money.
“We make every effort to react to Medicaid talks in Washington,” said the Commissioner of the Department of Russel Carlson at the meeting. “It does not exaggerate 24/7 in this information cycle, but gathering the best information, reading the political environment as best we can and acting responsibly.”
Other countries have He submitted similar conclusions with Medicare & Medicaid federal service centers and has received permission in recent months.
Medicaid cuts can be catastrophic for Delta and the rest of rural America
“Of all Medicaid discussions taking place in Washington,” said Carlson, “one of the political decisions that can potentially, depending on how it ends, affects Georgians, is a discussion about the directed payment programs.”
Subsidies for hospitals
Some of the largest federal savings in the modern law come from the limitation of countries “using the financing tool, Known as a tax on the supplierThis allows them to pull out more federal dollars. States apply extra money to enhance the rates of reimbursement for hospitals and extend insurance.
Some Republicans of the Congress condemned the maneuver as “Money laundering program“But lowering suppliers’ taxes will probably be hit huge holes in Medicaid state budgets.
Meanwhile, some legislators are looking for alternative ways to collect funds for hospitals. There was a bilateral law in Pennsylvania Create a subsidy program for rural healthcare To assist pay off student loans for rural doctors, nurses and dentists. Indiana AND Oxoplahola He also considers bills for this session to create subsidy programs for rural hospitals.
In April, the Republican Governor Texas Greg Abbott announced that the state would issue an edition Over $ 6 million in subsidies supporting fighting rural hospitals.
Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be achieved at avollers@stateline.org.
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