Health care players decry cuts pitched in Washington

Debt targets include Medicaid, Medicare

July 15, 2011|By Robert Weisman, Globe Staff

We are really scared and concerned about what might happen, said Lynn Nicholas… (Barry Chin/Globe Staff )

More than 50 state health care workers, executives, union activists, and lobbyists gathered on Beacon Hill yesterday to protest anticipated federal funding cuts they say would squeeze the state budget and devastate a business sector key to the Massachusetts economy.

While members of the hastily assembled coalition said they were still tracking fast-changing budget talks in Washington, D.C., some estimated the cuts being contemplated could drain $1 billion to $3 billion in annual health care funding from the state’s $30 billion budget, hurting everyone from the poor and elderly to doctors-in-training at teaching hospitals.

Standing on the State House steps, coalition members represented organizations including the Massachusetts Hospital Association, the Service Employees International Union, the consumer group Health Care for All, and the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization. Many held signs that read, “Fed cuts hurt care and jobs.’’

Speakers said that while it is difficult to gauge the full impact of fluid debt-limit negotiations, Massachusetts is almost certain to take a disproportionate hit because it collects additional federal money for a range of services, including training for medical residents and support for urban hospitals that treat large numbers of low-income patients.

“We are really scared and concerned about what might happen if Congress acts rashly and uses health care as the whipping boy’’ to rein in spending and reach a deal on raising the debt ceiling, said Lynn Nicholas, president of the Massachusetts Hospital Association in Burlington. “Medicare and Medicaid already don’t pay for their share of the costs.’’

The event, billed as a press conference, had the trappings of a political rally. It drew support from powerful health care players who are sometimes on opposite sides of the table, such as Partners HealthCare System, which operates the Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s and Massachusetts General hospitals, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the state’s largest health insurer. All of them said they worry that federal cuts could negate gains from the state’s 2006 health care law and derail efforts to overhaul health care payments.

Not everyone shares that concern. Andrew Roth, vice president of government affairs at the Club for Growth, a Washington group that supports lower taxes and limited government, said government must lift the burden on taxpayers. He said he wasn’t surprised Massachusetts health care organizations that depend on government spending are opposing cuts.

“If you rob Peter to pay Paul, you are always going to get Paul’s support,’’ Roth said. “What we need is to cut back on spending to get our economy growing.’’