File #: Res 1354-2008    Version: * Name: “The Public and Teaching Hospital Preservation Act.” (H.R.3533)
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Health
On agenda: 4/16/2008
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon Congress to pass H.R. 3533, also known as “The Public and Teaching Hospital Preservation Act.”
Sponsors: Joel Rivera, Gale A. Brewer, Robert Jackson, Letitia James, John C. Liu, Alan J. Gerson
Council Member Sponsors: 6

Res. No. 1354

 

Resolution calling upon Congress to pass H.R. 3533, also known as “The Public and Teaching Hospital Preservation Act.”  

 

By Council Members Rivera, Brewer, Jackson, James, Liu and Gerson

 

Whereas, In January 2007, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) proposed Medicaid regulations to cut at least $4 billion in Medicaid funding for hospitals nationwide over five years; and

Whereas, In May of 2007, CMS also issued a proposed regulation that would impose a new policy to not match payments for graduate medical education (GME) activities, meaning that hospitals would not receive federal Medicaid matching payments for services provided by graduate medical students; and

Whereas, The proposed ruling represents an abrupt and major reversal of long-standing Medicaid policy that has historically and consistently matched Medicaid payments to states using such; and

Whereas, Permitting these rules to take effect would drastically alter the Federal- State financial partnership between Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Programs; and

Whereas, In addition, major teaching hospitals and faculty practice groups service a disproportionately large volume of Medicaid recipients and this new regulation would threaten their ability to provide services; and

Whereas, At the time the CMS proposed these changes, Congress voted to place a one-year moratorium on the implementation of these drastic regulations; and

Whereas, The current one-year moratorium is set to expire in May of 2008, thus action is urgently needed to extend this moratorium; and

Whereas, In September 2007, Rep. Eliot Engel, introduced H.R. 3553, also known as “The Public and Teaching Hospital Preservation Act;” and

Whereas, The Public and Teaching Hospital Preservation Act would extend this moratorium for an additional one year period; and

Whereas, H.R. 3533 has vast bi-partisan support with 234 co-sponsors, as well as the support of numerous hospitals and health systems throughout the country; and

Whereas, According to H.R. 3553, “extension of the moratorium is necessary to effectuate Congressional intent;” and

Whereas, By extending the moratorium for another year, until May 2009, Congress will have time to conduct thoughtful analysis and carefully consider and address the long-reaching impact such cuts in funding would have on public hospitals and the people they are meant to serve; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon Congress to pass H.R. 3533, also known as “The Public and Teaching Hospital Preservation Act.”

 

JP

LS 4157

4/1/08