Whitfield Pushes DSH Proposal
May 3, 2002- During opening remarks at an April 24
Energy and Commerce Committee mark-up of transitional medical
assistance legislation, Rep. Edward Whitfield (R-Ky.) indicated
some interest in offering his Medicaid DSH bill, the "Medicaid
Safety Net Hospital Preservation Act" (H.R.
854), as an amendment. Co-sponsored by Diana DeGette (D-Colo.),
H.R. 854 would prevent reductions in state Medicaid DSH allotments
scheduled for FY 2003.
The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) had scheduled $10.4
billion in cuts to state Medicaid DSH allotments over five
years (FYs 1998 through 2002). The Medicare, Medicaid, and
SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA)
postponed cuts in FYs 2001 and 2002, effectively freezing
allotments at 2000 levels for two years. However, without
congressional action, the freeze would end in 2003, and Medicaid
DSH allotments would drop by about 10 percent as they reverted
back to the adjustments established in the BBA.
Ultimately, Rep. Whitfield did not offer an amendment. However,
it appears his comments during the mark-up generated new interest
in H.R. 854. The bill gained six cosponsors (including 4 Republicans)
the following day. Currently, the bill has 86 Democrat, 48
Republican, and two Independent cosponsors.
The AAMC has strongly supported H.R. 854, as well as a companion
bill in the Senate (S.
572).
Information:
Christiane Mitchell, Senior Legislative Analyst
AAMC Government Relations
cmitchell@aamc.org
(202) 828-0526
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