Feinstein Asks Democrats
to Sign Medicaid DSH Letter
August 30, 2002-Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)
continues to seek Senate Democrats' signatures for a letter
that will be sent to Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.)
strongly encouraging the inclusion of Medicaid Disproportionate
Share Hospital (DSH) provisions in any Senate Medicare provider
package that will be considered this year. Sen. Feinstein
plans to send the letter during the week of Sept. 9.
The letter highlights the AAMC-supported, bipartisan "Medicaid
Safety Net Hospital Preservation Act" (S.
572) which would, in FY 2003, prevent states' Medicaid
DSH allotments from reverting to BBA FY 2002 levels, adjusted
by inflation. The Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement
and Protection Act 2000 (BIPA) had prevented reversion to
BBA levels in FYs 2001 and 2002.
Sen. Feinstein's letter also references the AAMC-supported,
bipartisan "Medicaid Safety Net Hospital Improvement
Act" (S.
776), which would allow states with Medicaid DSH programs
totaling less than 3 percent of their overall Medicaid spending
to increase their federal DSH allotment to 3 percent of overall
spending. Based on revised estimates, S. 776 would benefit
18 states: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas,
Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North
Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, and
Wyoming.
According to Sen. Feinstein's staff, the following Senate
Democrats have already signed on: Barbara Boxer (Calif.),
Maria Cantwell (Wash.), Max Cleland (Ga.), Hillary Clinton
(N.Y.), Mark Dayton (Minn.), Ernest Hollings (S.C.), Edward
Kennedy (Mass.), John Kerry (Mass.), Mary Landrieu (La.),
Carl Levin (Mich.), Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), Patty Murray (Wash.),
Jack Reed (R.I.), Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), Paul Wellstone
(Minn.), and Ron Wyden (Ore.).
Information:
Christiane Mitchell, Senior Legislative Analyst
AAMC Government Relations
cmitchell@aamc.org
(202) 828-0526
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