The National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (NAPH) applauds the Congress for including essential Medicaid legislation in the Iraq war supplemental bill for fiscal year 2008, which was signed into law by President Bush on June 30, 2008. The legislation includes language prohibiting the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) from implementing six Medicaid-related regulations that would have cut billions of dollars in funding to public hospitals.

NAPH will continue to press Congress to stop DHHS from implementing one additional proposed Medicaid regulation, which will cut millions of dollars for hospital outpatient services. The hospital outpatient regulation was left out of the Iraq war supplemental appropriations bill in final negotiations with the Administration. If finalized in its current form, it could cut payments to hospitals for outpatient services such as dental and vision care, physician services, and some mental health care.

Medicaid Rules of Concern

Public Provider Cost Limit - under a moratorium until April 1, 2009

• NAPH Medicaid Unit of Government Comment Letter Prepared by Powell Goldstein LLP, NAPH Counsel (7/13/2007)
• NAPH's Summary of the Final Medicaid Public Provider Cost Limit Rule, Prepared by Powell Goldstein LLP, NAPH Counsel (5/29/2007)
• Copy of the Final Medicaid Public Provider Cost Limit Rule - Published on May 29, 2007
• NAPH Comment Letter on the Proposed Medicaid Public Provider Cost Limit Rule, Prepared by Powell Goldstein LLP, NAPH Counsel (3/8/2007)
• NAPH's Summary of the Proposed Medicaid Public Provider Cost Limit Rule, Prepared by Powell Goldstein LLP, NAPH Counsel (1/19/2007)
• Copy of the Proposed Medicaid Public Provider Cost Limit Rule - Published on January 18, 2007

Graduate Medical Education (GME) - under a moratorium until April 1, 2009

• NAPH Medicaid GME Comment Letter Prepared by Powell Goldstein LLP, NAPH Counsel (6/22/2007)
• Copy of the Proposed Medicaid GME Rule – Published on May 23, 2007

Outpatient

• NAPH Medicaid Outpatient Reimbursement Comment Letter Prepared by Powell Goldstein LLP, NAPH Counsel (10/29/2007)   
• Copy of the Proposed Medicaid Outpatient Rule – Published on September 28, 2007

Legislative Opposition

• FY2008 Supplemental Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2642, Title VII - Medicaid Provisions) - Signed Into Law on June 30, 2008
• Rep. Dingell (D-MI) and Rep. Murphy (R-PA) Legislation (H.R. 5613)
  • Manager's Amendment (substitute bill) as Accepted in Subcommittee
  • Current List of Cosponsors

• Sen. Rockefeller (D-WV), Sen. Snowe (R-ME) and Sen. Kennedy (D-MA) Legislation (S. 2819)

  • Current List of Cosponsors

• Sen. Bingaman (D-NM) and Sen. Dole (R-NC) Legislation (S. 2460)
  • Current List of Cosponsors
• Rep. Engel (D-NY) and Rep. Myrick (R-NC) Legislation (H.R. 3533)
  • Current List of Cosponsors
• Sen. Bingaman (D-NM) and Sen. Dole (R-NC) Letter to Leadership (62 Cosigners)
• Rep. Butterfield (D-NC) and Congressional Black Caucus Letter to Leadership
• One-Year Moratorium Language Included in the Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act of 2007, Public Law 110-28 (5/25/2007)

Litigation: Alameda County Medical Center v. The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt

• Judge's Order and Memorandum, May 23, 2008
• NAPH press release, May 23, 2008 - Federal Court Rules in Favor of Hospitals on Medicaid Rule
• NAPH press release, March 11, 2008 - Hospitals File Lawsuit 
• Background 
• Q and A 
• Brief 
• Complaint 
• Motion 
• Order

Advocacy Materials

• Frequently Asked Questions

Opposition by Other Elected Officials and Organizations

• Comprehensive Index of Supporters
• National Governors Association (NGA) Letter to Leadership (2/26/2008)
• Gov. Schwarzenegger (R-CA) and Gov. Spitzer (D-NY) Letter to Leadership (30 Cosigners)
• Public Hospital Board Chairs and/or Vice Chairs Letter
• Letter from 70 Patient and Provider Organizations 

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Hearing (11/1/2007)

• NAPH Testimony
• Committee Chairman Henry Waxman's (D-CA) Opening Statement
• Testimony Link for all Additional Witnesses
• Watch a Video of the Full Hearing

Additional Resources

• Newsline
• NAPH's Election Year Advocacy Toolkit