The Senate Health Policy Committee held a nearly two-hour hearing June 4 on federal threats to Medicaid.
The Senate Health Policy Committee heard from several healthcare stakeholders and members of the Protect MI Care Coalition on the potential impacts of federal Medicaid cuts. Adam Carlson, senior vice president, advocacy, MHA and JJ Hodshire, president and CEO, Hillsdale Hospital, testified on behalf of the MHA to discuss key impacts for hospitals and communities if currently proposed cuts to Medicaid are fully passed by Congress.
Carlson shared how the reconciliation package passed by the U.S. House of Representatives will result in more than 13 million people losing their healthcare coverage. Other restrictions in the legislation will reduce state revenues that help fund Medicaid and have been in place for years. Carlson noted that Medicaid is vital for continued access to healthcare for all Michiganders, not just those covered by Medicaid.
Hodshire spoke about the impact to rural communities. Medicaid recipients in rural counties are essential to keeping hospital doors open because they make up nearly 40% of patient volume. Hodshire spoke about how Medicaid helps enrollees get and keep jobs and how the state’s Healthy Michigan program reduces the uninsured rate and supports economic stability. Hospitals are often the largest employer in rural areas, as it was emphasized that cuts to Medicaid could result in hospitals closing units like labor and delivery or psychiatric, or in some cases – closing their doors completely. Hodshire made it clear that making cuts to Medicaid at the federal level would be devastating for rural patients, hospitals and communities.
Members with questions regarding Medicaid may contact Adam Carlson at the MHA.