Essential Hospitals Launch Campaign to Delay Medicaid DSH Cuts

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- The America's Essential Hospitals issued the following news release:

America's Essential Hospitals today launched a campaign of Washington advocacy, member mobilization, and advertising to demand that Congress delay cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments for two years.

The $2 billion cut in the current fiscal year undermines vital support for hospitals that care for many uninsured and underinsured patients. The cut will grow steadily to withering $8 billion reductions in fiscal years 2024 and 2025 and total $43 billion over the next eight years.

Recognizing the cuts could not be justified, given persistently high uninsurance rates, Congress has delayed the DSH cuts in three strongly bipartisan votes since 2013. But lawmakers failed to act this fiscal year, allowing the cuts to start October 1. The association seeks to roll back those cuts and delay further cuts at least two years.

As Congress works to fund the government past the January 19 expiration of the current continuing resolution, the association and its member hospitals will push for a DSH cuts delay in the next funding measure. Association advocacy last fall prompted the House to include a two-year delay in its bill to extend Children's Health Insurance Program funding, and 221 bipartisan House members signed a September letter to House leaders calling for a delay.

The association is supporting its advocacy work with digital advertising, its protectmedicaid.org website, and social media.