Representative: Governor’s cuts would devastate local hospitals

State Rep. Greg Markkanen today introduced a plan to restore funding for critical access hospitals after Gov. Whitmer stripped funding for the hospitals using a line-item veto.

Markkanen, of Hancock, said Michigan’s 35 critical access hospitals provide people vital access to quality health care services, but inadequate Medicaid reimbursement rates have left many of them struggling to continue providing care. The Legislature-approved budget included $34.3 million in Medicaid reimbursement rates for critical access hospitals that the governor vetoed last week. Markkanen’s legislation would restore the funding.

“The governor’s funding cuts would devastate our critical access hospitals,” Markkanen said. “Families across the U.P. rely on these hospitals to provide vital medical services. If one of them were to shut its doors, it could mean a long, life-threatening drive to the next closest hospital. That’s the difference between life and death in an emergency.”

Baraga County Memorial Hospital, as well as the Aspirus hospitals in Iron River, Ironwood, Calumet Township and Ontonagon will directly benefit from the restoration of this funding.

Markkanen’s measure is part of a bipartisan plan to restore funding to 24 programs vetoed by the governor. The plan has been referred to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration.

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