LANSING, MI (WTVB) – Michigan hospital officials are taking exception to comments made by 5th District Congressman Tim Walberg at a town hall style meeting in Coldwater Tuesday.
Walberg told those gathered for the “Coffee and Conversation” session at the Hope Cafe that if some hospitals are forced to close due to the recently passed Big Beautiful Bill and changes to Medicare and Medicaid, it won’t be a direct result of the bill but instead due to years of bad decision making.
Michigan Health and Hospital Association CEO Brian Peters issued this statement Thursday afternoon:
“When these cuts are implemented, Michigan healthcare providers stand to lose more than $6 billion in total Medicaid funding annually over the next decade. This loss will force providers, especially those in rural communities, to make difficult decisions about reducing and cutting essential service lines. This law could also result in loss of coverage for thousands, driving up the uninsured rate and uncompensated care costs across the state. Put simply: Loss in access to care will be a direct result of this legislation. To suggest otherwise is incredibly misleading. State funding and provider taxes are legitimate, necessary funding mechanisms for hospitals.”
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