The board approved cuts, proposed by Gov. Martin O’Malley, $75 million in cuts in Medicaid reimbursements that will now be covered by federal matching funds as the state unemployment rate grows, as well as another $34 million in reductions in Medicaid payments to hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers....
Nancy Fiedler, a spokeswoman for the Maryland Hospital Association, said the group, representing the state’s major medical providers, is concerned about the state’s recent budget cuts, “and even more concerned” about additional cuts O’Malley could make prior to Labor Day.
“This round of cuts limits the number of days a Medicaid patient can stay in the hospital,” Fiedler told IFAwebnews.com. “That falls disproportionately on hospitals that care for the greatest number of Medicaid patients and patients who are often the sickest patients. “
She noted that hospitals that can least afford it, including Bon Secours and Prince George’s Medical Center, are “already in extremely fragile financial condition.”
“It is important to remember that every dollar cut in Medicaid results in program reductions of $2, because the federal government matches the state contribution dollar for dollar,” she said.
Emphasis mine. I need to point out two things.
First, when companies were rushing women out of the hospital after having a baby, people strongly objected. Now look at what the government is doing. Second, you know that O'Malley and company KNOW what their cuts mean for federal funding.
Recent Comments