“I would also say to anybody who’s designed their business model depending on federal government funding: Get a new model.” – Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.)
“People say, ‘Well, my hospital is not doing very well.’ Give me the financial statements. I’ll be glad to go through them.” – Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.)
For those following the federal budget reconciliation process, the news is only worsening: A bill passed by the Senate that cuts even deeper than the House version. Hundreds of amendments and hours of nonstop voting. A vote in the House that will discuss not whether to cut Medicaid, but how deep those cuts will be — and a final bill that could land on the president’s desk tomorrow.
Despite unprecedented round-the-clock advocacy efforts with elected representatives and national and local media, as well as engagement with state, local, and national partners, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) continues to march forward, and sentiments from some congressional Republicans demonstrate the uphill battle hospitals face. Hospitals have not — and will not — give up the fight, but it is clear that a new era of health care government funding is upon us. Cuts are coming; there is no rabbit in the hat.
The coming months will stretch the health care system in unimaginable ways. Hospitals must continue demonstrating the human impact of these decisions; for every dollar cut from Medicaid, a real patient will feel pain.
As we look down the road ahead, hospitals and their community and corporate leaders will be forced to make difficult decisions to keep hospitals’ doors open. Neither our elected officials nor the public yet understand the enormity of the impact of these cuts for everyone — not just those who rely on Medicaid.
There are no rabbits and there is no fairy dust to change this outcome. There are only committed leaders like you and the women and men who dedicate their lives to caring and curing to work through this tectonic shift together.
A new era of health care is here — and CHA, working with our extraordinary hospital leaders, must help shape it.
