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January 24, 2003 - In a Jan. 22 letter to Senate Finance
Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Center for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Tom Scully announced
his intent to rescind a new policy that would have permitted
states to limit Medicaid coverage of emergency services. According
to the letter, several legislators and hospital groups had
warned Scully that while the policy was "well-intentioned,"
it "could potentially result in some restriction of payment
for true emergency care." Announced on Dec. 20, 2002,
the policy was intended to support states initiatives that
encouraged patients "not to use the emergency room as
their doctor's office."
The policy generated strong criticism from House and Senate
Democrats. In response, Sens. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) and Edward
Kennedy (D-Mass.) introduced an amendment to the FY 2003 omnibus
appropriations legislation that would have prevented states
from implementing any limits on coverage. The AAMC joined
the AHA, National Association of Children's Hospitals, and
other hospital associations in signing a letter supporting
the Graham/Kennedy amendment. The hospital letter was sent
to the entire Senate and warned that the policy could "severely
harm access to emergency services for our most vulnerable
people-the poor, disabled, and elderly." The letter also
criticized CMS for issuing the policy changes "with little
rationale provided" and "no prior consultation with
the public."
Information:
Christiane Mitchell, Senior Legislative Analyst
AAMC Government Relations
cmitchell@aamc.org
(202) 828-0526
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