|
 On
January 18, 2007, CMS released a proposed rule that will cut an
estimated $3.87 billion from Medicaid services over the next five
years. As a result of the protest from public hospital leaders,
Congress passed a moratorium. Unfortunately, that moratorium will
expire May 25, 2008, unless Congress intervenes and passes another
moratorium.
The rule is alarming for LMHS and our community because:
• Under the rule, Medicaid funds could no longer be used to support
facilities that provide care to high numbers of uninsured.
• Limits our ability to provide essential community-wide services,
such as trauma care and neonatal intensive care. LMHS provides the
only Trauma Center and the only comprehensive Children’s Hospital
between Tampa and Miami to our five-county region.
• It would also impede our ability to expand our programs to improve
care to Medicaid and low-income patients.
So what does that mean financially for LMHS? It means that these
proposed cuts could cost LMHS nearly $24 million. We have already
received serious Medicaid reductions in reimbursement from recent
actions by the Florida Legislature totaling nearly $20 million
annually. More cuts in reimbursement would be devastating to our
financial situation.
 Over
the past month, congressional opposition to these Medicaid rules has
grown and a commitment by congressional leaders to stop the rules
has solidified. Congressional leaders are considering including new
moratorium legislation in the Iraq war supplemental appropriations
bill, scheduled for congressional debate over the next few weeks.
Please write your senators and representatives requesting they
ask House and Senate leadership to add language in the Iraq war
supplemental bill to stop these Medicaid rules from going into
effect later this month.
Adding the moratorium legislation to the Iraq war supplemental bill
reduces the chance President Bush will use his veto powers, and
continuing the moratorium on the Medicaid legislation gives Congress
more time to look at better long-term solutions.
To contact your Congressional representative, please
click here.
At this Web site you will find a letter already written and awaiting
your personal information, such as name and address. (See right side
bar of the Web site for full details and instructions.)
 Our
grassroots writing campaign can make a difference! Help us fight
these severe cuts to programs that many people in our community need
and use on a regular basis! These vital services help our neighbors
and friends in our community.
Your voice (actually your e-mails) can help protect those in need of
vital health services in our community.
Thank you for your support.
Peace,
Jim Nathan
LMHS President |
