Don’t harm patients in Medicaid reform

The state’s Medicaid program is a tempting target for budget cutters during this spring’s General Assembly session. The Illinois Hospital Association (IHA) is asking state leaders to be strategic and compassionate about making changes to Medicaid, which provides a safety net for our most vulnerable citizens.

IHA and its 200 hospitals and health system members are committed to continuing our partnership with the state to develop cost-saving solutions for Medicaid that preserve quality health care. Already, hospitals are reducing readmissions and unnecessary use of services to lower costs and improve patient outcomes.

Hospitals are also ready to work with the state on: Launching new models of health care delivery to better coordinate care at lower costs; enhancing Primary Care Case Management, which has saved the state hundreds of millions of dollars over the past few years; integrating behavioral health with primary medical care; maximizing federal funding, including the Hospital Assessment Program, where hospitals contribute revenues to the state to generate billions in federal matching funds; improving the long-term care system; and modernizing Medicaid’s enrollment and eligibility system.

There are no easy answers. But if state leaders make rash decisions like imposing drastic cuts or quickly moving large numbers of people into HMOs — it could have far-reaching consequences that hurt patients, communities and the health care system. IHA is deeply concerned about the Governor’s plan to cut $2 billion from Medicaid. When health care services are eliminated because of Medicaid cuts, those services are gone for everyone, not just Medicaid patients.

We all believe the Medicaid program should offer quality, cost-efficient access to care. When state leaders decide how they want to redesign Medicaid to achieve efficiencies, we urge them to “first, do no harm” to patients and the health care system.

Maryjane A. Wurth

President & CEO

Illinois Hospital Assn.

Naperville