According to a new analysis, the governor’s proposed budget cuts to hospital-based clinics are estimated to be about $75 million per year. Under the proposal, the cuts would affect all services provided in off-campus hospital department locations, and the payment amounts would be reduced to about half of what is currently paid for these services, considerably below the cost of care.
WSHA adamantly opposes these cuts to hospital services. We believe the cuts seriously threaten access for Medicaid and other patients served through off-campus hospital clinics. Other safety net clinic providers are paid $150 per visit on average, yet the proposal would pay hospital-based clinics only about $50 per visit. It is important for hospitals to contact legislators about the serious implications for patients’ access to services. Click here to read more from Fiscal Watch. (Andrew Busz)