Like many states, Delaware
government is intensely focused
on Medicaid costs and the impact
this fast growing category of
spending is having on state
budgets. Last year came a
proposal from the state to reduce
their outlays for Emergency
Department utilization by
Medicaid patients. Their plan,
which has risen in other states,
was to arbitrarily cap Medicaid
reimbursements to hospitals for
non-urgent ED visits – effectively
shifting the cost of care required
by federal law (EMTALA) to
hospitals and from the state. An
intensive round of discussion by
the association with legislators
served to define in their minds
September 2012
page 275
