Federal lawmakers have been working to negotiate a deal to extend long-term unemployment benefits. Last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) proposed an 11-month extension paid for by extending sequestration, which includes Medicare payment cuts.
In response, eight national hospital organizations urged the Senate not to cut Medicare funding. The groups include the American Hospital Association, America’s Essential Hospitals, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Catholic Health Association of the United States, the Federation of American Hospitals, the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, Premier and the VHA.
“While we do not oppose the extension of these benefits, we do oppose using Medicare reductions to pay for non-Medicare related spending,” the organizations wrote in a letter.
More Articles on Medicare Payments:
AHA: Hospital Medicare, Medicaid Payments Cut by $113B Since 2010
AHA: Medicare, Medicaid Underpaid Hospitals by $56B
Hospital Groups: Don’t Cut Medicare to Fund Unemployment Benefits
