Hospital Groups Call Obama's Budget "Shortsighted"

The American Hospital Association and Federation of American Hospitals each issued responses to President Barack Obama's budget for fiscal year 2013, both of which expressed concerned about further cuts to Medicare and Medicaid hospital reimbursements.

Rich Umbdenstock, AHA president and CEO, said in a statement (pdf) the budget was "bad news for our nation's senior and most vulnerable citizens. It once again targets funding for hospital care and could result in fewer nurses, less access to cutting-edge treatments and longer waits for emergency care."


Furthermore, Mr. Umbdenstock argued the government's budget would hinder the ability of teaching and children's hospitals to train physicians and would critically reduce funding for rural hospitals and critical access hospitals.

Chip Kahn, president and CEO of FAH, which represents investor-owned hospitals and health systems, called the Obama administration's fiscal year 2013 budget cuts "shortsighted" and "counterproductive." "Not only will they weaken the hospital safety net and reduce access for seniors and other vulnerable citizens, they also threaten the vital role that America's hospitals play as the largest private employers," he said in a statement (pdf).

Related Articles on National Healthcare Spending:

President Obama's FY 2013 Budget Cuts Healthcare Spending by $360B

Healthcare Spending Growth Has Not Exceeded 4.4% Since October 2008

CBO: Federal Healthcare Expenses Set to Double Over Next Decade

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