In early December, 1199SEIU New York State political activists went to the nation’s Capitol in Washington, DC to meet with their Congressional representatives and lobby against proposals for “site-neutral cuts.” These proposals would cap Medicare payments to hospitals for certain outpatient services. Those payments would be reimbursed at a much lower rate than what would be paid to private physician practices offering the same services. This is unreasonable, because the lower rates ignore the higher costs of providing the services in a hospital setting.

1199SEIU members expressed deep concerns about these proposals at their lobby visits, stating that when hospitals struggle financially, it is difficult for healthcare workers to deliver quality care. This could be harmful to entire communities that depend on their local hospitals.

If enacted, the “site-neutral cuts” would affect up to 66 types of services essential to the mission of hospitals. This means adverse consequences for quality patient care, especially for the uninsured and underinsured. Hospitals would have trouble meeting their expenses. Hospital outpatient clinics caring for vulnerable populations would be put at risk.

Members also lobbied against proposed cuts to Graduate Medicare Education (GME). GME funding provides the dollars needed to train the next generation of doctors. Also on the agenda was $500 million in funds for Ebola Preparedness. New York hospitals took on enormous costs to be ready to care for patients with Ebola, including constructing specialty ICUs, purchasing Personal Protective Equipment and training their staff.