Another Ann Marie Buerkle Stunt: Medicare and Hospitals

For Immediate Release   

Date: December 14, 2011

Contact: Liza Lowery

(315)559-9388

Rep. Buerkle Introduces Legislation
to Help Hospitals

Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle (NY-25) introduced the Help 

Our Hospitals Act of 2011, which repeals a section of the President’s Health Care Law that cuts 

Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments to hospitals. ...

This is a legislative stunt. It is another Ann Marie Buerkle/Tea Party/Republican attempt to gut the 2010 Health Care Law and nothing more. Since the Health Care bill passed, Republicans have been intent upon defeating any comprehensive health care laws and with defeating President Obama with a crudeness that feels racist.

Our gal Buerkle is congenitally incapable of posing both sides of any complicated issue. In this instance, a Google search shows that the primary web sites concerned with this issue of Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments to hospitals are large corporate law firms who represent hospitals.

The truth is that at this time no one can say with assurance what the total effect will be upon hospitals receiving DSH payments. Shifts in how care presently being paid for by Medicare are assured in 2014. The Health Care Law has the means to make up the difference to hospitals in other ways using more direct and simplified formulas. Buerkle is unwilling to recognize this publicly or to discuss it.

For a enlightening discussion of the effects of redistribution of risk that changes in health care will make upon hospitals receiving DSH funds, see this Brookings Institute paper.

Buerkle: If It's Not A Stunt, What Is It?

Ann Marie Buerkle to U.S. Senate: Just do your job, or don't get paid

Published: Friday, June 24, 2011, 4:14 PM, at Syracuse.com

Washington -- Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, frustrated with the U.S. Senate's lack of progress toward a fiscal 2012 budget bill, introduced her own bill today that would cut off the money that keeps congressional leaders and their budget offices operating.

In what may amount to nothing more than a political stunt, Buerkle introduced the "Just Do Your Job Act of 2011" in the House.

Syracuse.com is taking some flak from the Buerkloids for suggesting that Ann Marie Buerkle's bill is just grandstanding.

So, if it's not a stunt, then what is it? Definitions of "stunt" include variants on the following: 

something done to attract attention or publicity, 

anything spectacular or unusual done to gain publicity

Blueskygirl doesn't see a problem.