As part of efforts to reduce the federal deficit, the administration could cut physician training and intensive care services by $1 billion a year, according to a New York Times article yesterday.
The reduced Medicare subsidy would particularly affect the cities of New York, Boston, and Philadelphia with their teaching hospitals. For instance, the hardest hit would be New York's leading hospitals, including Montefiore Medical Center, Mount Sinai Medical Center, and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, as well as the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
The proposed Medicare cuts to physician training have some congressional members nervous about what it could do to an already strained workforce.
Manhattan hospitals rely on the subsidy to "train doctors who will, once trained, provide care for Americans across the country," said Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.) in the article.
In addition, Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said, "One of the best things New York does for America is train high-quality physicians who then sally forth around the country and provide great medical care for the rest of their lives."
The proposal details have yet to be released.
A White House spokesman, Nicholas Papas, said, "We haven't been commenting on the details of the negotiations," in the article.
To learn more:
- read the NYT article
Related Articles:
Looming physician, APN, PA shortages call for more training
Teaching hospitals have more post-surgery problems
Relief from physician shortage coming soon?