U.S. House Lawmakers Call to Protect DSH Funding

December 09, 2024

Congress has less than two weeks to stop critical funding cuts to hospitals that care for millions of Americans who are uninsured or covered by Medicaid.

In a letter today, 182 representatives—including 12 members of the Pennsylvania delegation—called on House leaders to avert pending funding cuts to the Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) program. The cuts would amount to $8 billion in reductions in fiscal year (FY) 2024 nationally and more than $500 million in Pennsylvania.

“Hospitals that receive Medicaid DSH funding treat the most vulnerable patients in our communities, including children, the elderly and the disabled,” the letter said. “They shoulder the burden of significant uncompensated care costs, while offering vital services to their patients. While Medicaid DSH does not always cover all of the uncompensated care that DSH hospitals provide, such payments help ensure these hospitals are able to continue serving large numbers of low-income and uninsured patients.”

Without congressional action, the pending DSH cuts would take effect January 1. The letter noted some states would face cuts of 60 percent of their current DSH allotments if the reductions take effect.

“Our nation’s Medicaid DSH hospitals, many of which are the backbone of rural and urban communities alike, simply cannot absorb losses of this magnitude. We ask that you work to prevent these DSH cuts, to ensure our hospitals can continue their mission of providing care for the most vulnerable among us,” the lawmakers wrote.

HAP and Pennsylvania’s hospital community thank members of Pennsylvania’s House delegation who signed onto this important advocacy letter, including Brian Fitzpatrick (R-1), Brendan Boyle (D-2), Dwight Evans (D-3), Madeleine Dean (D-4), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-5), Chrissy Houlahan (D-6), Susan Wild (D-7), Matt Cartwright (D-8), Dan Meuser (R-9), John Joyce (R-13), Glenn Thompson (R-15), and Chris Deluzio (D-17).

Read the letter online.