America’s Essential Hospitals Issues Statement on House Delay of Medicaid DSH Cuts

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The America's Essential Hospitals issued the following statement by President and CEO Bruce Siegel on the House measure to delay Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts:

"We thank House leaders for protecting low-income patients and others who rely on essential hospitals by supporting a two-year delay of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) funding cuts.

"The proposed delay would avert the damage these cuts would cause to hospital care for vulnerable people and lifesaving services for communities. Further, the delay would give Congress time to work with stakeholders on a permanent alternative to DSH reductions.

"We also applaud the House for moving to extend Children's Health Insurance Program funding for five years. This vital program has done much to improve the lives of children in low-income families.

"We look forward to working with Congress on these and other steps to strengthen the health care safety net. While a two-year DSH cut delay would create needed breathing room, subsequent DSH reductions--especially an $8 billion cut in fiscal year 2021--remain a pressing concern. We urge lawmakers to act in bipartisan fashion to approve the delay and immediately begin work on a sustainable solution to the problem of uncompensated care."