From a DailyKos Diary
While people are focused on universal care, the Bush Administration is incrementally chipping away at our existing public health safety net. The most recent assault on our public health care infrastructure is escaping the notice of mainstream media and citizen journalists alike, probably because it is not easily explained. I am referring to a proposed arcane regulations change by the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) which, if enacted, will result in $4 to $5 billion dollars over 5 years in cuts to public hospitals and other hospitals that serve indigent patients. In addition, CMS is proposing other rules changes that will result in billions of dollars of reductions to teaching hospitals.Contact Congresswoman Lois Capps and let her know that our countrywill be ill served by shuttered hospitals and that public health should be the utmost consideration. We have quite a number of uninsured and indigent patients here in the land of $1.25 million dollar median priced homes and Cottage Hospital will feel the affects of BushCo's assault on healthcare.
...On January 18, 2007, CMS issued a sweeping rule that, if it goes into effect, will drastically limit Medicaid payments to public health care providers, and to private providers who serve the indigent and uninsured.In response, Congress enacted a one year moratorium on the rules change, which was buried in the supplemental appropriations bill (P.L. 110-28, Section 7002) that funds military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The moratorium allows Congress time to consider and develop rules that simplify Medicaid without harming our safety net by preventing CMS from enacting the new rule until May 25.
...On November first, the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems offered testimony before Congress. Alan Aviles, President of the New York Health and Hospitals Corporation described the potentially drastic impacts the cuts would impose to public health, and to the ability of local government to respond to natural or manmade disasters. He should know. His hospitals treated the victims of 9/11. Mr. Aviles stated that many hospitals will be forced to choose between closures of emergency rooms, or primary care and outpatient services.
The impacts to communities are drastic and far-reaching:
In rural communities, where the same hospital serves all income levels, closure or cutbacks will leave all residents out in the cold regardless of ability to pay, and may leave multi-county regions without access to hospital care or trauma services.
