Statement: NAPH Urges Congress to Reject White House Proposal to Cut Supplemental Safety Net Payments - 6/15/09

NAPH has released a press statement opposing the White House's proposed cuts to DSH. The statement notes that DSH is not only used to pay for treatment of the uninsured but is also critical in paying hospitals for other unreimbursed costs, including:

• Unreimbursed costs of providing essential services like trauma care and emergency psychiatric care
• Extra costs of providing additional "wrap-around" services needed by vulnerable low income patient
• Costs of providing access patients to health services in medically underserved areas
• Substantial shortfall created by inadequate Medicaid provider payments
• Added costs of caring for low income elderly or disabled patients eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid or for Supplemental Security Income

We are sending parallel letters to the Administration and key members of Congress expressing our opposition to Medicaid and Medicare DSH cuts, and are continuing hospital industry meetings with key offices.