Proposed cuts to Texas Medicaid funding could hurt healthcare in rural areas, says Republican Rep. John Zerwas, an anesthesiologist from suburban Houston, according to a Houston Chronicle report.
Rep. Zerwas called the state's Medicaid rates "woefully inadequate," while other providers pointed out the potential losses for hospitals if the cuts are implemented. Texas legislative leaders proposed the cuts in the face of a $15 billion revenue shortfall. The rates paid to physicians and hospitals could be slashed by as much as 10 percent, in addition to the loss of federal matching funds.
Mike Henderson, MD, of Childress Regional Medical Center said the cuts could close the obstetrical unit at his hospital. Childress is the only hospital within 100 miles of the town that delivers babies, according to the report.
Read the Houston Chronicle report on Texas Medicaid cuts.
Read more on Medicaid:
-New Website to Show Status of Medicaid RACs
-12 Tips for Surgery Centers to Survive on a Medicaid-Heavy Caseload
-Maryland Internist Allegedly Bilked More Than $800K From Medicaid, Medicaid
Rep. Zerwas called the state's Medicaid rates "woefully inadequate," while other providers pointed out the potential losses for hospitals if the cuts are implemented. Texas legislative leaders proposed the cuts in the face of a $15 billion revenue shortfall. The rates paid to physicians and hospitals could be slashed by as much as 10 percent, in addition to the loss of federal matching funds.
Mike Henderson, MD, of Childress Regional Medical Center said the cuts could close the obstetrical unit at his hospital. Childress is the only hospital within 100 miles of the town that delivers babies, according to the report.
Read the Houston Chronicle report on Texas Medicaid cuts.
Read more on Medicaid:
-New Website to Show Status of Medicaid RACs
-12 Tips for Surgery Centers to Survive on a Medicaid-Heavy Caseload
-Maryland Internist Allegedly Bilked More Than $800K From Medicaid, Medicaid