Press Release

Statement on Administration's 2012 Fiscal Budget

Contact:
Marie Watteau - (202) 626-2351

Washington D.C.

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Rich Umbdenstock
President and CEO
American Hospital Association

While we are pleased that the President's budget does not include any new major reductions in payments for hospitals services to Medicare beneficiaries, we are deeply disappointed that today's budget reduces Medicaid, which funds services to our most vulnerable patients such as the poor and disabled. Moreover, at a time when hospitals have already been asked to absorb big cuts at the state level, and state budgets are already stretched, it is unwise to ask states to continue to do more with less. In addition, we are also disappointed to see elimination of funding for the children's graduate medical education program at a time when there is a need for an expanded physician workforce. While we fully support eliminating future reductions to physicians, the answer to the physician payment issue is not cutting one provider to reimburse another.

About AHA

The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the improvement of health in their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which includes more than 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, and 38,000 individual members. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends.