171 Ashley Ave.
Charleston, SC 29425
843-792-1414
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March 2008
Update From Our Administrator
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John Sanders, MHA
Administrator
MUSC Children's Hospital |
Politics Affect Children's Hospitals
One of the most focused initiatives in children's hospitals is working with state and federal representatives to make sure that funding and support is kept constant for health care for children. More than 50 percent of the children that are cared for at the MUSC Children's Hospital are funded by Medicaid. This is a very typical for children's hospitals across the country. This dependence on public funding causes us to be vulnerable to any changes in state and federal guidelines and because Medicaid is such a big budget, it is vulnerable for changes and cuts in funding.
Obviously, this is an important year for public office elections so it is crucial that we all communicate with our representatives to make sure they understand the needs of our most vulnerable patients. Health care has become a very important campaign issue for the presidential candidates. We have had some exposure to various campaigns, including President Clinton and Mrs. Huckabee where we had the opportunity to talk about the challenges we see with changing and complex reimbursement processes.
As we move through this important election year, we must be focused on the messages that all candidates provide regarding health care and more specifically, health care coverage for children. This election could give us an idea of what programs children's hospitals will be able to continue or change so it's imperative that we stay informed and voice our thoughts. During this time, and always, MUSC Children's Hospital is dedicated to provide comprehensive care for all children and it is necessary that our political leaders understand our needs.
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