The American Hospital Association has urged President Barack Obama not to cut Medicare payments to hospitals in his fiscal year 2015 federal budget.
In a letter to the president, AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock wrote Medicare reimbursement reductions would "severely jeopardize" hospitals' ability to upgrade their facilities, purchase new technology and invest in information systems and other resources needed to make care delivery more effective and efficient.
"In communities across
the world to our patients, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year," Mr. Umdenstock wrote. "Unfortunately, our ability to keep that promise of maintaining access to quality healthcare services would be seriously challenged by additional cuts to the Medicare program."
He wrote hospital leaders have proposed alternatives to "arbitrary" hospital cuts such as eliminating barriers to developing integrated care models, changing the cost-sharing structure for Medicare Parts A and B and reforming Medigap.
The White House will release President Obama's 2015 budget March 4, according to a Reuters report.
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