As the new administration imposes significant policy reforms on healthcare, hospitals find themselves at a crucial juncture. The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania’s President and CEO, Nicole Stallings, recently appeared on the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast to provide valuable insights on upcoming challenges, foremost being the defense of Medicaid. Notably, about 3.2 million inhabitants of Pennsylvania are dependent on the Medicaid program, and speculated funding reductions may have far-reaching impacts affecting not only hospitals but local communities and the state’s economy.
In her discussion, Stallings dissects the complexities of policy alterations, articulates the futures at stake for those in hospital administration, and explores how proactive advocacy can mold the future of healthcare access and delivery.
Facing the recent political shift, hospitals should be prepared for giant leaps in healthcare policy. It can be overwhelming, given the number of variables involved. Thus, Stallings suggests hospital leaders to be vigilant about staying informed and prepared for potential changes. She emphasizes the importance of protecting Medicaid, considering Pennsylvania is a state of expansion with an existing 3.2 million Medicaid beneficiaries. The roll back on the expansion could cause Pennsylvania to witness the fifth-highest upsurge in uninsured populations in the nation. This rise would inevitably lead to delayed medical attention, worsening health outcomes, and a substantial fiscal burden. Existing estimates speculate that uncompensated medical care costs might surge by 25% to 30%, contributing to an overall increase in healthcare expenses.
The proposed Medicaid policies may have disastrous implications for healthcare delivery as hospitals heavily reliant on Medicaid could potentially be hit with severe financial hardships, possibly resulting in service cuts or even complete closures. Stallings stresses that the safeguarding of Medicaid is not only about providing coverage to three million Pennsylvanian Medicaid recipients, but also preserving healthcare access for whole communities.
However, Medicaid is only one issue among many that are currently under debate in Washington. Stallings suggests that the hospital association’s role is to help its members discern actual policy signals amidst the political noise, offering them clear channels to convey their experiences and concerns to lawmakers. She maintains that unrestricted access to care is a bipartisan concern and this is where they are focusing their advocacy currently.
Even though Republican legislators have insisted they won’t deduct Medicaid funds, the Congressional Budget Office reports that it would be impossible for the GOP to achieve its projected savings of $880 billion over the next decade without doing so. At this point, the association’s duty is to ensure lawmakers are fully aware of the consequences of such actions.
Stallings also highlights the roles hospital leaders and associations should play in the discourse around healthcare funding and reimbursement at both state and federal levels. It is essential to narrate hospital stories, pointing out the complexities and financial pressures these institutions face. Linking the adequate reimbursement to the ability to maintain the level of healthcare communities depend on is crucial.
Hospital stability is as much a community issue as it is a hospital one. Therefore, Hospital leaders are urged to share their unique stories highlighting how their hospitals support their communities and why adequate funding and reimbursement are fundamental to their mission. Partnering with strong allies in this dialogue, and ensuring all understand that access to care is a community concern is advised.