A bipartisan group of representatives, led by Reps. Ron Kind (D-Wis.) and Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.), are urging the debt reduction committee to protect critical access hospitals as they consider proposals for $1.5 trillion savings, according to an AHA News Now report.
Under the Budget Control Act, the debt reduction committee faces a Thanksgiving deadline for finding $1.5 trillion in savings. Failure to submit the recommended savings or failure by Congress to enact the recommendations by that time will result in across-the-board automatic cuts, including a 2 percent cut in Medicare payments.
The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 includes the "critical access hospital" designation to provide special reimbursement for healthcare providers in rural communities. The debt reduction committee has been offered varying cost-savings proposals, including reduced reimbursements for CAHs as well as partial and full repeal of the CAH designation.
"These hospitals frequently serve as an anchor for their region's health-related services, providing the structural and financial backbone for physician practice groups, health clinics and post-acute and long-term care services. CAHs also often provide essential, related services such as social work and other types of community outreach," the letter reads. "In addition to [CAHs'] top priority of ensuring access to care, rural community hospitals are also important economic engines in rural communities."
HCA Spends $210k on Supercommittee Lobbying
Sen. Baucus Recommends $500B in Health Program Savings as Part of $3T Debt Reduction Plan
Under the Budget Control Act, the debt reduction committee faces a Thanksgiving deadline for finding $1.5 trillion in savings. Failure to submit the recommended savings or failure by Congress to enact the recommendations by that time will result in across-the-board automatic cuts, including a 2 percent cut in Medicare payments.
The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 includes the "critical access hospital" designation to provide special reimbursement for healthcare providers in rural communities. The debt reduction committee has been offered varying cost-savings proposals, including reduced reimbursements for CAHs as well as partial and full repeal of the CAH designation.
"These hospitals frequently serve as an anchor for their region's health-related services, providing the structural and financial backbone for physician practice groups, health clinics and post-acute and long-term care services. CAHs also often provide essential, related services such as social work and other types of community outreach," the letter reads. "In addition to [CAHs'] top priority of ensuring access to care, rural community hospitals are also important economic engines in rural communities."
Related Articles on Debt Reduction:
GOP Debt Reduction Committee's Proposes $1.2T Spending Cuts, Including MedicareHCA Spends $210k on Supercommittee Lobbying
Sen. Baucus Recommends $500B in Health Program Savings as Part of $3T Debt Reduction Plan