Medicaid cuts could be devastating

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By Karen Cohilas - bio | email

ALBANY, GA (WALB) - Community hospitals and independent physicians say proposed cuts to Medicaid could be devastating to healthcare providers. Many of the patients treated at Phoebe Putney are either indigent or on Medicaid or Medicare.

Already, hospital officials say they don't get reimbursed at true cost for those patients. A new plan from Governor Perdue would cut Medicaid reimbursements to hospitals by 10%. Phoebe leaders say that could add up to a loss of more than $5 Million for the hospital.

Phoebe Attorney Tommy Chambless said, "Community hospitals, those with missions like Phoebe, to look after everybody without regard to ability to pay, are going to be dramatically impacted by what amounts to a drastic cut in the Governments proposal."

Reimbursements to doctors would be cut by 6%. Some doctors say that could force them to stop treating medicaid patients.

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