February 8, 2012
Chicago Tribune
To the Editor:
We agree that Illinois faces serious challenges with its state budget and Medicaid program ("Time to move on Medicaid spending," Feb. 5). The Illinois Hospital Association (IHA) and the state's more than 200 hospitals and health systems are strongly committed to continuing our partnership with the state to develop solutions that preserve quality health care.
IHA and hospitals want a patient-focused Medicaid program that ensures the right care is delivered cost effectively and efficiently. Already, hospitals are successfully reducing readmissions and limiting unnecessary use of services to reduce costs while improving patient outcomes. We are also ready to work with the state on:
- Launching new models of health care delivery to better coordinate care at lower costs;
- Enhancing the Primary Care Case Management program for Medicaid, which has saved the state hundreds of millions of dollars over the past few years;
- Integrating behavioral health with primary medical care;
- Maximizing federal funding, including enhancing the Hospital Assessment Program, where hospitals contribute significant revenues to the state to generate billions of dollars in federal matching funds;
- Improving the long-term care system; and
- Modernizing Medicaid's enrollment and eligibility system.
There are no "silver bullets" or easy answers. But if state leaders make rash decisions - like imposing drastic cuts or quickly moving large numbers of people into HMOs - it could have far-reaching consequences - hurting patients, communities and the health care system. IHA is deeply concerned about the Governor's plan to cut $2 billion from Medicaid. When hospital and health care services are eliminated because of Medicaid cuts, those services are gone for everyone, not just Medicaid patients. Implementing workable solutions takes time and should be based on careful analysis and planning.
Our hospitals' strong partnership with the state has helped keep Medicaid costs down: Illinois ranks 44th in the country in per capita spending for Medicaid beneficiaries. This partnership benefits Illinois taxpayers - because of hospital contributions to the state, less than one-third of Medicaid payments to Illinois hospitals come from state funds.
We all share the same goal - to make Medicaid as cost efficient as possible while ensuring access to quality care with the best possible patient outcomes. At the same time, in considering ways to control costs and achieve efficiencies in Medicaid, we urge the state to "first, do no harm" to patients and the health care system.
Sincerely,
Maryjane A. Wurth
President & CEO, Illinois Hospital Association
Naperville, IL