Suffolk Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County) and Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-Brooklyn), joined by Reps. Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Mike Lawler (R-NY), and Frank Mrvan (D-IN), introduced the bipartisan Save Our Safety-Net Hospitals Act to prevent significant cuts to New York hospitals’ Medicaid payments. Specifically, Stony Brook University Hospital is facing a potential $53 million cut in 2024.

“New York's safety-net hospitals, like Stony Brook University Hospital, are the backbone of our healthcare system, providing essential care to our most vulnerable communities. The potential $53 million cut in Medicaid funding threatens the very foundation of these institutions,” said LaLota. “My bipartisan Save Our Safety-Net Hospitals Act would prevent massive cuts to the nation’s most vulnerable hospitals without any cost to the taxpayer and ensure they can continue to deliver critical services.”

“New York’s safety net hospitals are an invaluable resource for our state's most vulnerable patients, and Medicaid DSH funding is necessary for keeping their operations running,” said Clarke. “We cannot stand by as devastating funding cuts loom and threaten the health, wellbeing, and futures of the millions of New Yorkers who rely on these vital hospitals to access the healthcare services they need.”

“Safety net hospitals in Indiana and across the nation help care for the most vulnerable patients. As a physician, I know how critical these facilities are, particularly in rural and underserved urban communities,” said Bucshon.

“Achieving health equity requires that our most underserved patients can access high-quality care,” said Matsui. “Low-income older Americans are some of our most medically vulnerable patients — and safety net hospitals are on the front lines of serving this population.”

“Hospitals that serve our most vulnerable populations are facing deep and unnecessary cuts, including hospitals right here in the Hudson Valley,” said Lawler.

“Thank you to Rep. LaLota and my House colleagues for introducing this legislation to ensure that everyone in our communities has access to the health care services they need,” said Mrvan.

“I am grateful to Rep. LaLota for introducing this critical piece of legislation to protect our nation's safety-net hospitals providing quality care to the patients most in need,” said Carol Gomes, Stony Brook University Hospital CEO and COO.

“I applaud Reps. Nick LaLota, Yvette Clarke, and Mike Lawler for championing the Save Our Safety-Net Hospitals Act," said Bea Grause, RN, JD, President of the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS).

“This legislation takes an important step toward righting a wrong,” said Wendy Darwell, CEO of the Suburban Hospital Alliance of New York State.

“Medicaid DSH payments are an essential lifeline for New York’s safety net hospitals," added Kenneth E. Raske, President of the Greater New York Hospital Association.

“We strongly support legislation introduced today to correct a federal policy that harms the ability of many essential hospitals," stated Bruce Siegel, M.D., President and CEO of America’s Essential Hospitals.

“Medicaid DSH payments are a lifeline for many safety-net hospitals," noted Ellen Kugler, Executive Director of the Alliance of Safety-Net Hospitals.

The bill is supported by America’s Essential Hospitals, HANYS, Suburban Hospital Alliance of NYS, Alliance of Safety-Net Hospitals, Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council, and GNYHA.

Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) funding helps preserve access to care at hospitals serving vulnerable populations. All New York hospitals receive some level of Medicaid DSH funding which many rely on to remain operational.

This no-cost bipartisan legislation would mitigate an unintended impact from a provision included in FY21 Consolidated Appropriations bill by redefining Medicaid shortfall components within DSH caps.

Section 203 altered Medicaid shortfall definitions affecting limits on Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments by excluding costs associated with dually eligible Medicare patients leading to significant uncompensated costs for such hospitals.