Maine hospitals will lose $800 million in Medicare reimbursements over 10 years under federal health care reform, a representative of Maine hospitals told a state health care committee Tuesday.
Katie Fullam Harris spoke on behalf of MaineHealth, which represents seven hospitals as members and four hospitals as affiliates.
“We wanted to make sure you recognize those reductions,” she told members of the Advisory Council on Health Systems Development. “There’s very little fat to cut in Maine.”
The committee asked for public comment on a draft report that details how Maine can comply with the federal law passed earlier this year.
The council is scheduled to meet again Friday to vote on the final report.
Dan Demeritt, spokesman for Gov.-elect Paul LePage, said the administration will review the report and see what kind of recommendations are proposed.
“The governor-elect appreciates their work and will certainly look at their analysis and recommendations,” he said. “While he is pleased to see the court decision yesterday about the constitutionality of the mandate and the change that could bring to the policy, he understands Maine needs to work with the federal government on this.”
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