Consideration throughout the nation is rightly centered on potential huge and drastic Medicaid cuts into account by Congress that may imperil well being take care of almost 80 million of our most susceptible neighbors – low-income households, expectant mothers, youngsters and senior residents, in addition to people with disabilities.
Rural hospitals caring for communities in America’s heartland – that are already struggling – shall be additional devastated by these cuts, making entry to high quality well being care one other unobtainable aspect of the American Dream.
The 13 hospitals that make up Hospital Sisters Well being System serve small communities all through central and southern Illinois, and northeastern Wisconsin. The populations in these cities usually replicate greater reliance on Medicaid, particularly amongst youngsters. In line with the McCourt College of Public Coverage at Georgetown College, 25% of youngsters in Macon County, Illinois, residence to HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital, depend on Medicaid. In Brown County, Wisconsin, residence to HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Heart and St. Vincent Hospital in Inexperienced Bay, almost 32% of youngsters depend on Medicaid. In Sangamon County, that quantity is almost 22% of youngsters.
As representatives of nonprofit, Catholic well being care, HSHS views well being care as a primary proper.
For us, well being care service is greater than an occupation – it’s a vocation. We deal with each affected person with the identical love and compassion St. Francis confirmed to lepers banished to dwell exterior medieval metropolis partitions.
Medicaid – together with Medicare – was created in that very same spirit in 1965, with President Lyndon B. Johnson noting the brand new medical insurance program collectively funded by the federal and state governments mirrored an American custom, directing us “by no means to disregard or to spurn those that undergo untended in a land that’s bursting with abundance.”
Who amongst us has not been susceptible sooner or later of their life, or is aware of a relative, good friend or neighbor who has? Public opinion polls bear out this sentiment, with the nonprofit well being coverage analysis group Kaiser Household Basis (KFF) reporting two-thirds of U.S. adults have some connection to Medicaid. Moreover, greater than three-fourths maintain a positive view of this system.
The human toll of those cuts could be unconscionable, and the financial impression devastating. KFF estimates state governments may shoulder extra Medicaid prices of $1 trillion over the subsequent decade if the federal authorities caps its contribution per enrollee and withdraws its 90% match to states that expanded Medicaid underneath the Reasonably priced Care Act.
We assist the dignity of labor, but potential work necessities for Medicaid members seem counterproductive, since KFF analysis exhibits almost two-thirds of Medicaid adults are already working, often at low-paying jobs that both do not supply insurance coverage or achieve this at unaffordable charges.
The general results of these proposed adjustments: States could be pressured to dramatically cut back their Medicaid applications, hurting enrollees and impacting virtually each hospital throughout the nation – together with these HSHS operates. Medicaid accounts for twenty-four% of inpatient admissions in Illinois hospitals, based on the Illinois Well being and Hospital Affiliation, whereas this system makes up 14.5% of whole gross affected person income in Wisconsin hospitals, based on the Wisconsin Hospital Affiliation.
Hospitals throughout the U.S. are nonetheless grappling with COVID-19 fallout, dealing with workforce shortages and shrunken margins. As a nonprofit system, HSHS just isn’t profit-driven. But we should function on some measure of stable monetary footing to hold out the legacy of our founding and present Hospital Sisters.
Our Sisters based 4 of our Illinois hospitals 150 years in the past this 12 months, and inside days of their arrival from Germany have been knocking on doorways, in search of donations. We hold that drumbeat alive right this moment, however we can not proceed our mission on contributions alone.
We urge Congress to take care of federal funding commitments for the Medicaid program to forestall structural adjustments that may rob protection from these in want. Our federal lawmakers should keep in mind their mission in representing all constituents for the frequent good.
Damond Boatwright is president and CEO of Hospital Sisters Well being System.
