AMGA Sounds Alert on Impact of Proposed Medicaid Cuts

In a Medical Economics article, the American Medical Group Association (AMGA) warned Congress not to cut Medicaid funding. AMGA President and CEO Jerry Penso, MD, MBA, warned, "Patients who are dropped from Medicaid will forgo care until they show up in our already overcrowded and strained emergency departments... This proposal not only will devastate the ability of medical groups and integrated delivery systems to provide care to their Medicaid patients, but also will have far-reaching ramifications beyond the Medicaid population." In its recent survey, AMGA found that:

• 86% believe Medicaid cuts will eliminate patient services.

• Most believe medical clinics and specialty clinics will close or face restructuring.

• 72% believe employees will be furloughed or laid off.

• Most believe the impact of the cuts will (i) delay population health initiatives, (ii) eliminate or delay social drivers of health investments, and (iii) delay delivery system improvements and implementation of care model changes.

  
  

Source: AMGA.org