Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA), has publicly condemned ongoing efforts to cut Medicaid funding, citing the profound negative impact such reductions could have on Michigan’s healthcare system.
In a statement released this week, Peters described the potential cuts as “disastrous,” noting that Michigan hospitals are already facing immense financial pressures due to rising costs, workforce shortages, and the continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Medicaid funding, he emphasized, plays a vital role in ensuring hospitals can provide essential care to vulnerable populations, including low-income families, children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.
“Reductions in Medicaid reimbursement jeopardize access to care for millions of Michiganders,” Peters said. “Our hospitals rely on these funds to cover the cost of services that are often underpaid or unpaid. Cutting this support would result in longer wait times, hospital closures, and reduced access to life-saving care.”
Peters also pointed out that Medicaid payments already fall short of covering the full cost of care, meaning hospitals frequently operate at a loss when serving Medicaid patients. Additional cuts, he warned, could further destabilize rural hospitals and safety-net providers, many of which serve communities where Medicaid patients make up a significant portion of the population.
The MHA is urging state and federal policymakers to reconsider these proposed reductions and to recognize the critical role that adequate Medicaid funding plays in maintaining a functional and equitable healthcare system.
“Our healthcare system is still in recovery mode from an unprecedented public health crisis,” Peters continued. “Now is the time to invest in our care infrastructure, not dismantle it through budget cuts.”
The MHA continues to advocate on behalf of Michigan’s hospitals, working to ensure policies support the long-term sustainability and accessibility of care throughout the state.
Source: https:// – Courtesy of the original publisher.
