Congress urged to avoid DSH payment reductions. (HFMA News).

HFMA and 10 other healthcare associations have sent a letter to Congress urging the immediate enactment of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) legislation to avoid a reduction in funding for state Medicaid programs.

The amount of federal funds that may he used for DSH payments

in FYo3 has dropped by more than $1.1 billion, representing an 11.5 percent reduction in Medicaid funding. In the coalition letter, HFMA expressed support for immediate action to address current fiscal year DSH issues, including action on the FYo3 omnibus appropriations legislation to forestall Medicaid DSH cuts for one more year and to increase low DSH allotments to 3 percent of Medicaid spending. The letter also encourages Congress to request budget allocations that more permanently address significant deficiencies in DSH funding. To read the comment letter, go to www.hfma.org/resource/HALODSHFinalo20703.pdf.