Knowing the Issues is the First Step
Advocacy from PA Hospital Community Yields FMAP Victory
August 13, 2010: The United States Congress recently approved legislation (H.R. 1576), signed into law by President Obama, that will bring much-needed federal medical assistance money (known as FMAP) to Pennsylvania. The funding--between $630 and $660 million--will help with Pennsylvania's new Medical Assistance modernization... Read more.
Pennsylvania's state budget has tremendous impace on health care in Pennsylvania. Learn more about the state budget and its impact on you and your hospital.
Plan to Modernize Hospital Medical Assistance Payments Moves Forward
July 8, 2010: Governor Rendell signed legislation into law that would allow Pennsylvania to continue moving forward with a plan that would update its outdated Medical Assistance payment system for hospitals and provide $121 million this year that was critical to passing the state budget. Read more.
Pennsylvania's state budget has tremendous impace on health care in Pennsylvania. Learn more about the state budget and its impact on you and your hospital.
State Strikes Budget Deal, including Medicaid Modernization Plan
July 8, 2010: This week, the Governor signed into law Pennsylvania's 2010-2011 budget, which will spend $28.05 billion, up $200 million from last year (an increase of less than 1 percent). Finalizing the budget was difficult for the Governor and lawmakers as it... Read more.
Pennsylvania's state budget has tremendous impace on health care in Pennsylvania. Learn more about the state budget and its impact on you and your hospital.
Urge Congress to Pass Hospital Funding!
June 14, 2010: To date, Congress has not approved a critical funding extension, leaving Pennsylvania with an $850 million "hole" in its state budget. Governor Rendell said he would eliminate all state supplemental payments to hospitals and eliminate hospital specialty payments that cover the cost for those who are uninsured or unable to pay. Your help is needed now! Read more.
Pennsylvania's state budget has tremendous impace on health care in Pennsylvania. Learn more about the state budget and its impact on you and your hospital.
State Budget: Few Easy Answers
May 28, 2010: For the second year in a row, Pennsylvania is projected to collect less in taxes this year than last, a first in the recent history of the commonwealth. Shortfalls of this magnitude mean tough choices for next year's state budget, including decisions about hospital payments for patients with Medical Assistance, Pennsylvania's Medicaid health insurance program for people with low incomes. Read more.
Pennsylvania's state budget has tremendous impace on health care in Pennsylvania. Learn more about the state budget and its impact on you and your hospital.
Crisis Creates Opportunity: A Call to Modernize Medical Assistance Payments
April 29, 2010: Due to the nation's slow economic recovery, a growing number of patients covered by Medical Assistance, and proposed hospital payment cuts in the state budget, Pennsylvania hospitals that treat Medical Assistance patients are financially affected. Fortunately, Pennsylvania hospitals are advocating for a solution used in 20 other states that would protect access to quality care for Medical Assistance patients and improve inadequate Medical Assistance payments to hospitals. Read more.
Pennsylvania's state budget has tremendous impace on health care in Pennsylvania. Learn more about the state budget and its impact on you and your hospital.
State Budget Update and Issues
March 17, 2010: In February, Governor Rendell issued a proposed state budget for the next fiscal year, 2010-2011. Now it's up to lawmakers in Pennsylvania's House of Representatives and Senate to accept, reject, change, or rewrite the budget. Their goal is to develop a budget that they and the Governor can agree on before June 30, 2010, when the current budget runs out. Read more.
Pennsylvania's state budget has tremendous impace on health care in Pennsylvania. Learn more about the state budget and its impact on you and your hospital.
Medical Assistance Enrollment Up, Hospital Payments Down
February 17, 2010: When Governor Rendell released his 2010-2011 state budget on February 9, he stated that one of his priorities was "meeting the state's health and safety responsibilities." The hospital community supports the budget's funding increase for more enrollment in the government-sponsored Medicaid insurance program for low-income people and families (called Medical Assistance in Pennsylvania). However, the proposed budget reduces payments to the safety net health care providers who render services to those same people. Read more.
Pennsylvania's state budget has tremendous impace on health care in Pennsylvania. Learn more about the state budget and its impact on you and your hospital.
State Fiscal Challenges Will Continue to Drive Health Care Policy in 2010
January 5, 2010: Plagued by significant revenue losses, growing unemployment, and a host of other challenges, Pennsylvania has completed a year filled with financial challenges. Those challenges are expected to continue in the new year. Read more.
Pennsylvania's state budget has tremendous impace on health care in Pennsylvania. Learn more about the state budget and its impact on you and your hospital.
The Case for Modernizing Medicaid Hospital Payments
January 5, 2010: Pennsylvania's hospitals provide access to care for the state's most vulnerable citizens. Many of those citizens have health care coverage through the Medicaid program, known as Medical Assistance (MA) in Pennsylvania. Read more.
Take Action
Tell Your Hospital Story
Share the impact of the state or federal budget, piece of legislation, or other important issue on your hospital and community. Share information about a program or service, quality or patient safety initiative, or outstanding employee or volunteer who makes a difference in your hospital and community. Share your story with other members of the hospital community at CareforPA.