Medicare Provisions in Bush Budget Plan Draw Opposition in California
President Bush's fiscal year 2009 budget proposal would reduce Medicare funding for California hospitals by $8.8 billion over five years, according to the California Hospital Association, the Sacramento Business Journal reports.
At a congressional district level, over five years the proposed spending plan would cut:
- $347 million for hospitals in District 5, including Sacramento, represented by Rep. Doris Matsui (D);
- $104 million for hospitals in District 4, represented by Rep. John Doolittle (R); and
- Almost $60 million for hospitals in District 3, represented by Rep. Dan Lungren (R).
Doctors also oppose the Medicare payment cuts and could see a 10.1% cut in payments beginning in July, the Business Journal reports.
Richard Frankenstein, former president of the California Medical Association, said the cut could push more physicians to stop participating in Medicare.
Meanwhile, health care advocates are criticizing the proposal for targeting funds for hospitals and physicians while not reducing payments for Medicare Advantage plans (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 2/11).