Hospital execs: Fees, not cuts, are best way to fund Medicaid
Some 760,940 state residents -- 36 percent of the population -- are enlisted in the government insurance program. That's up from 25 percent at the end of 2014.
While the enrollment surge means far fewer state residents are going without health care coverage,
To balance the increased health care needs with an expected decline in revenues, the state is proposing wide-ranging cuts in
Hospital executives, however, are proposing an alternative solution that they say will ensure the program remains fully funded for years to come -- and the money would come from their own institutions. They're backing a new provider fee imposed on clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and diagnostic services such as radiology that would pump more money into direct care rather than cutting dollars. They see the fee as an investment that will allow the state to leverage more federal funds. But Gov.
It may be unthinkable that business leaders would voluntarily step up to assess themselves a provider fee to support
"I think we're in an extraordinary circumstance now," said
The groups are asking for agreements that the fee will be used exclusively for
The surge in the
Martinez was one of just three Republican governors who initially embraced the expansion, and even her critics commend her for standing by the decision to extend
Even though
And that's the problem for Martinez and policymakers. Because of a slowdown in the state economy from the decline in oil and gas production,
In the coming fiscal year,
State spending on the program will continue to grow, especially during the next three years, as the federal match for the newly eligible drops to 90 percent. The average federal match for all other
That federal money flowing into the pockets of hospitals, doctors, specialty clinics, caseworkers and counselors is one reason why many -- such as Carrier, of
In
"
Bullington was the first to stand up at a meeting of state
"This program [
Carrier said hospital executives and others in
But most states go beyond that, imposing a fee on nursing homes, hospitals and even pharmacies, imaging centers, outpatient surgical businesses and rehabilitation centers. The only state without a tax or fee of any kind is
Nursing facility taxes are the most common, with 41 states imposing them, while 39 states have a hospital fee, according to the Myers and Stauffer CPA firm, which has completed an analysis for the state of
Brewer called the decision a victory for "business, our health care system and for hardworking families in
Opponents, including the
In
Martinez has been reluctant to move ahead with such a measure without broad-based support from her own
The New Mexican made requests to agency spokesman
After a March meeting of the state
Another issue for
Some 87 percent of physicians in the state accept
And only 6 percent of those physicians limit the number of
The survey also found that
If
Contact
If you go
What:
--2 percent reduction for services to the regular
--4 percent reduction in services for the newly enrolled ACA population
--5 percent reduction for hospital inpatient services, with a larger 8 percent cut at the
--3 percent reduction to dental providers
--1 percent reduction to community health providers and agencies
When:
Where:
State
1:
26:
51:
National average:
States with the highest percentage of population enrolled in
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