American Hospital Association Tells Congress How Medicare Cuts Would Impact Critical Services for Patients

Soundbite and Script

February 21, 2012

SUGGESTED ANCHOR LEAD

AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, CONGRESS PASSED A TWO-MONTH EXTENSION OF MEDICARE PHYSICIAN PAYMENTS. THAT EXTENSION IS QUICKLY RUNNING OUT AND CUTS IN PAYMENTS FOR HOSPITAL SERVICES ARE AGAIN AT THE FOREFRONT. LOCAL HOSPITAL LEADERS TRAVELED TO CAPITOL HILL TO TELL THEIR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HOW MEDICARE CUTS WOULD IMPACT THE CRITICAL SERVICES THEY PROVIDE FOR THEIR PATIENTS AND COMMUNITIES. THAT STORY IN 3,2,1

ANNOUNCER:

LOCAL HOSPITALS HAVE ALREADY ABSORBED SIGNIFICANT CUTS IN MEDICARE AND MEDICAID, ACTUALLY BEING PAID LESS THAN THE COST OF PROVIDING CARE. LOCAL HOSPITAL LEADERS WERE IN WASHINGTON TELLING THEIR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT ANY ADDITIONAL CUTS WOULD THREATEN VITAL PATIENT SERVICES.

ALVIN HOOVER:

“We’ll certainly have to evaluate which services we’re going to be able to provide. That means that some people will have to travel 50 miles, 60 miles to get health care.”

ANNOUNCER:

ALVIN HOOVER IS CEO AT KING'S DAUGHTERS MEDICAL CENTER.

ALVIN HOOVER:

“From a safety-net prospective we want to be there for our community.”

ANNOUNCER:

AS THE TEMPORARY EXTENSION EXPIRES AT THE END OF FEBRUARY, CONGRESS IS NOW DEBATING THE FUTURE OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATES. I’M ROBERT BARBER.