AHA urges Congress to reject ’misguided’ budget

In a statement, American Hospital Association President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock has urged Congress to reject President Bush's latest budget proposal. Umdenstock decried the budget, saying it would create cuts to teaching hospitals, reduce technology funds, and cut programs that help rural communities maintain healthcare. "America's hospitals strongly oppose this budget's outrageous cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. In the real world, these enormous budget numbers come with enormous consequences, making hospitals' job of caring for patients even more difficult," Umdenstock said in the statement.