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State Senate to Propose Massive Health Care Cuts to Balance the State Budget
On June 17, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Michigan Department of Community Health is expected to report out a fiscal year (FY) 2010 budget that eliminates nearly $200 million in general fund support for health care. When combined with lost federal matching funds, the cut could grow to more than $600 million.
Details on specific cuts have not been released; however, it is expected that hospitals will face at least a 4 percent cut to inpatient and outpatient rates, totaling more than $56 million ($16 million in general funds and $40 million in lost federal matching funds). Additionally, elimination of optional Medicaid services that occurred in the current fiscal year — podiatric, chiropractic, optometric, hearing and dental — are expected to continue into FY 2010.
Hospital Community Must Respond NOW!
Every member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate leadership must hear from the hospital community that the proposed cuts are completely unacceptable to hospitals and the patients they serve in this difficult economic climate.
Please IMMEDIATELY
contact members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to:
- Articulate how Michigan’s health care delivery system is in crisis and the impact that additional Medicaid cuts will have on your community hospital.
- Urge resolution of the state’s budget crisis — with an infusion of new federal stimulus dollars, NOT through continued MASSIVE CUTS — to protect health care services for
all residents.
Due to the significance of this issue, MHA members are also urged to directly contact the following Senate leadership:
- Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester): (517) 373-2417
- Senate Appropriations Chair Ron Jelinek (R-Three Oaks): (517) 373-6960
- Senate Minority Leader Michael Prusi (D-Ishpeming): (517) 373-7840
- Senate Minority Appropriations Vice Chair Michael Switalski (D-Roseville): (517) 373-7315
Senate lawmakers must understand that health
care services for patients seeking treatment in
Michigan hospitals will be at risk, more
hospitals will be unable to cover the cost of
patient care, and thousands of health care jobs
will be threatened if additional Medicaid
funding cuts occur and subsequent federal
funding is abandoned. Please immediately
contact members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to convey these important advocacy messages.
Click
here for a sample legislative letter. To
locate your senator, visit our
Legislative Action Center and select My
Elected Officials. For instructions on how to
use the action center,
click here.
If you have any questions regarding this Action Alert, please contact
David Finkbeiner at the MHA at (517) 703-8604.
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