_-- Public Policy Network - Posting to PUBPOL-L --_


It seem that attempts to eliminate the disproportionat share hospitals (f=
or
hospitals in states that have a high proportion of Medicaid patients) has
drawn a $10,000 political contributions to Sen Arlen Specter by the Hospi=
tal
association of Pennsylvania (HAP).=20

Incredibly, the HAP states in their website that the funds were raised an=
d
contributed to Specter specifically for the purpose of delaying the cutba=
ck.
And then 1 week later the HAP announced that Sen. Specter was indeed
successful in delaying the cut-back.

2 Articles from the website are given below.

Irionically Sen.Specter is on the Government Affairs Committee that is
conducting the hearings on election financing reform - chaired by
Sen.Thompson.

My own reaction is the incident seems to be beyond fair play and some
accounting for it is neccessory. I have forwarded a copy of this posting =
to
HHS Secretary Donna Shalala. [log in to unmask] (Secretary Shalala)

Please address replies to me since this list is not for posting discussio=
ns.=20

Stephen Miles Sacks PhD
[log in to unmask]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----
------------
ARTICLE 1


Sen. Specter Successful in Delaying Limitations on Medicaid DSH Payments



Due to Pennsylvania's efforts, our work with Gov. Ridge's staff and a
HAP-initiated coalition of states' efforts, Sen. Arlen Specter was succes=
sful
in getting a delay by one year in proposed limits on the use of federal
disproportionate share funds for institutions of mental diseases and othe=
r
mental health facilities, saving Pennsylvania $100 million. The Senator
worked to get the language in the manager's amendment, which was adopted =
on
the Senate floor Wednesday. This delay would give us more time to work on=
 the
IMD issue with state leaders, provide an option compared to the House
language and should raise the importance of the funding in conference
committee discussions.



We applaud Sen. Specter for his leadership on this critical issue. Such
efforts are difficult to negotiate when funding affects only a limited nu=
mber
of states. We are now comparing the Senate Finance Medicaid DSH proposal =
with
the House Medicaid DSH proposals to determine our strategy for conference
committee action.



If you have questions e-mail Scott Malan or Ginny Antonoplos.







<Picture>
Return to HAP2000 Home Page=20
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
P.O. Box 8600, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8600
phone (717) 564-9200 fax (717) 561-5334
World Wide Web site=97http://www.HAP2000.org
Comments welcome. Direct comments to Patricia L. Bricker, web editor
All rights reserved.=20
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----
----------
ARTICLE 2

Hospitals and Health Systems Support Sen. Specter



Hospitals and health systems in southeastern Pennsylvania supported Sen.
Arlen Specter, R-Pa., in a fund-raiser Monday morning in Philadelphia. Th=
e
event, co-hosted by HAPAC and DVHC, was held at the law offices of Duane
Morris & Heckscher.



The event, which raised about $10,000, was an opportunity to show support
from the hospital and health system community. Specter has always been
willing to meet regularly with hospital and health system representatives=
 to
discuss health care issues.



Provider representatives explained the importance of providing a carve-ou=
t of
medical education and Medicare disproportionate share payments from manag=
ed
care organization payments so that those payments can be made directly to
hospitals. Specter strongly supported the carve-out.



Additionally, Specter was thanked for signing on to the provider-sponsore=
d
organization (PSO) bill. He said he did not believe the language in the
Senate would be changed to require PSO certification at the state level.



He said he didn't think the PPS freeze would be included in the Senate bi=
ll.
And he added that he felt there is some support for a commission=97simila=
r to
the Social Security Commission=97that would look at long-term solvency of=
 the
Medicare Trust funds.



HAP is working with Specter and with Sen. Rick Santorum and Gov. Ridge to
preserve Pennsylvania's Medicaid disproportionate share.



The senator noted that while hospitals and health systems are improving i=
n
their involvement in the political process, the complexity and volume of
issues concerning the industry require hospital executives to become more
even more active in the process.



"You are the experts, you are the ones who deal with these issues every d=
ay,"
Specter said. "I and my colleagues need to hear from you on how these iss=
ues
impact your hospital."



If you have questions e-mail Scott Malan.







<Picture>
Return to HAP2000 Home Page=20
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
P.O. Box 8600, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8600
phone (717) 564-9200 fax (717) 561-5334
World Wide Web site=97http://www.HAP2000.org
Comments welcome. Direct comments to Patricia L. Bricker, web editor
All rights reserved.


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