ASA Joins National Medical Organizations in Raising Concerns about Medicaid Changes

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) joined over twenty national medical organizations to express concerns about Medicaid spending changes proposed as part of the Congressional budget reconciliation process. The proposed changes could cause the disruption of care to vulnerable populations by shifting Medicaid costs to states.  ASA and the groups argue “a sustainable solution requires a multi-pronged approach that offers multiple, affordable pathways to coverage.”  “Smarter” reforms that include input from medical specialty organizations are encouraged.  Additionally, consistent with the Administrations’ focus on improving the health of Americans, opportunities for specific prevention policies that could improve health equity and reduce Medicaid spending are presented.  Renewed efforts to address Medicaid spending abuses, the insufficiency of Medicaid payments to physicians and Medicaid managed care prior authorization abuses are recommended.   The medical organizations’ communication also recognizes a Medicare provision that proposes to add historic new language to Medicare law creating a series of mandatory annual partial inflation updates to the physician fee schedule.  ASA is currently reviewing the language.