House Releases Bill with No DSH Cuts, Denver Health CEO to Testify - 6/22/09

On Friday, June 19, House Democrats released a 852-page discussion draft of their health reform legislation, which was jointly prepared by the House Education & Labor, Energy &Commerce, and Ways & Means Committees.  The three committees will hold an intense round of hearings on the legislation the week of June 22, in preparation for committee markups of the bill in July.  NAPH is pleased that Denver Health CEO Patricia Gabow will testify on behalf of NAPH at the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s June 25 hearing on the legislation. Thanks to the hard work of NAPH members who contacted their representatives to urge them to maintain Medicaid and Medicare disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments, the House tri-committee legislation does not propose any cuts to Medicaid or Medicare DSH payments. Instead, the bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue dual reports by July 1, 2016 on the role, targeting and distribution of Medicare and Medicaid DSH funding. Dr. Gabow’s testimony on the legislation will be critical to further laying the groundwork to keep DSH cuts out of the final bill.