on the potential impacts of federal Medicaid cuts. , senior vice president, advocacy, MHA and , president and CEO, Hillsdale Hospital, testified on behalf of the MHA to discuss key impacts for hospitals and communities if currently proposed cuts to Medicaid are fully passed by Congress.

Other restrictions in the legislation will reduce state revenues that help fund Medicaid and have been in place for years. Carlson noted that Medicaid is vital for continued access to healthcare for all Michiganders, not just those covered by Medicaid.

. Medicaid recipients in rural counties are essential to keeping hospital doors open because they make up nearly 40% of patient volume. Hodshire spoke about how Medicaid helps enrollees get and keep jobs and how the state’s Healthy Michigan program reduces the uninsured rate and supports economic stability. Hospitals are often the largest employer in rural areas, so it was emphasized that cuts to Medicaid would likely result in hospitals closing units like labor and delivery or psychiatric care – or in some cases – closing their doors completely. Hodshire made it clear that making cuts to Medicaid at the federal level would be devastating for rural patients, hospitals and communities.

Members with questions regarding Medicaid may contact Adam Carlson at the MHA.