Pennsylvania Lawmakers Write Letter To Congressional Committees Expressing Concerns Over Cuts To 'Indirect Medical Education' Medicare Payments

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Also Included In: Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 28 Apr 2008 - 7:00 PDT

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Ten of Pennsylvania's 19 House members last week wrote a letter to the chairs of the Senate Finance and House Energy and Commerce committees expressing concern about potential cuts in the "indirect medical education" component of Medicare Advantage plans to teaching hospitals, CQ HealthBeat reports. Indirect medical education payments are intended to cover the higher costs of treating patients at teaching hospitals. The cuts were proposed as a way to offset legislation that would block a Medicare physician payment cut scheduled for July 1.

The letter, dated April 18, said cuts to the indirect medical education payments "would have a disproportionate effect on the 724,000 Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in [MA] plans in our state." According to the letter, estimates show the "proposal could reduce MA funding by as much as $241 million in [Pennsylvania] -- the second highest statewide total nationally" (CQ HealthBeat, 4/23).

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