Sent Letter to the “Super Committee,” with Support from the Full New York Delegation

              

Washington, DC -- Representatives Eliot Engel (D-NY-17), Michael Grimm (R-NY-13) and Joseph Crowley (D-NY-7) led a bipartisan letter, signed by all members of the New York delegation, to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction.  The letter expressed strong opposition to cuts to Medicare and Medicaid providers, specifically cuts to Graduate Medical Education (GME).  This would affect funding for teaching hospitals and essential Medicaid services, which will have a serious impact on patient care and the economy. 

“I understand the challenges the so-called ‘Super Committee’ is facing, and their task is not enviable.  However, deep cuts to Medicare and Medicaid would be devastating to New York’s economy.  Statewide, hospitals are the largest employers in many communities.  In addition, these reductions in funding would cripple our providers’ ability to maintain the exceptional quality of care enjoyed by our citizens.  Cuts to Medicare-supported GME for our teaching hospitals are especially worrisome, as these hospitals not only train our next generation of physicians, but also provide highly specialized care not found in community hospitals.  Teaching hospitals also provide the vast majority of uncompensated care to New Yorkers in need.  I fear the consequences for doctors, patients and administrators are almost too terrible to fathom,” said Rep. Engel, a senior member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health.

"I am encouraged that the entire New York delegation was able to come together to protect Medicare and Medicaid providers and the patients they serve, proving that this is not about being a Republican or a Democrat, it’s about our constituents,” said Rep. Grimm.  “While all savings should be on the table, we cannot forget that our hospitals, doctors’ offices, and nursing homes are vital economic engines to our community. They support more than 686,000 high quality jobs in our state, for the common good of providing a high quality of life for our families and neighbors.  This letter to the 'Super Committee' is a reminder of the long-term value of this funding in sustaining patients’ access to health care and our country’s economic growth."

“New York’s teaching hospitals are part of our state’s economic backbone, but they are far more than economic anchors and top rate employers.  They educate and prepare a large portion of our nation’s future physician workforce and provide cutting edge medical care to thousands every day.  I know the mission of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction is a difficult one, but I hope they take stock of what is at stake if cuts are made to these critical medical institutions – jobs will be lost, medical services will be diminished and our physician shortage will be exacerbated,” said Rep. Crowley, a member of the Ways and Means Committee which has jurisdiction over Medicare.

With a nationwide physician shortage, expected to reach 130,000 physicians by 2025, hindering teaching hospitals’ ability to train new doctors is counterproductive.  An aging population and diminishing physician population demands an influx of young doctors.  Cuts to GME would not only force New York’s teaching hospitals to cut back on training doctors, but also reduce services to patients.  Currently, one out of every seven physicians is trained by New York’s teaching hospitals. 

Following the reduction of Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments by $14.1 billion by the end of the decade, New York’s hospitals cannot handle more crippling cuts.  Rural and small communities are also at great risk if the Committee recommends major cuts to such programs as Critical Access Hospitals (CAH), Sole Community Hospitals (SCH), or Rural Referral Centers (RRC).

"The New York State Congressional House Delegation’s strong, bi-partisan opposition to another massive round of cuts, sends a compelling message to the Super Committee, the full Congress and the White House that provider cuts hurt our communities,” stated Daniel Sisto, President of the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS). “Medicare cuts to rural, small community teaching hospitals, and academic medical centers along with deep Medicaid cuts will cause longer waits and more distant travel to access essential care along with tremendous job losses. We cannot address an economic crisis by harming our strongest growth sector and withholding health services to millions of New Yorkers who rely on them. HANYS and HANYS members across the state are grateful for the bipartisan leadership of Representatives Engel, Crowley, Gibson and Grimm.”

New York hospitals generate nearly $108 billion for state and local economies annually, and support more than 686,000 jobs through direct and indirect employment.  Combined, hospitals pay more than $4.7 billion in state and local personal income and sales taxes. 

"At a time when New York's hospitals are trying to do more with less, cuts to GME and Medicaid would have the disastrous twin effects of eliminating thousands of health care jobs and severely compromising access to care," said Greater New York Hospital Association president Kenneth E. Raske. "I applaud Congressmen Engel, Crowley, and Grimm for joining the entire New York Congressional delegation in protecting New York's hospitals and the patients and communities they serve."

Rep. Christopher Gibson (R-NY-20) was also a lead author of the letter, which was signed by each member of the New York delegation.  

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