Gillis, John

Do not delay or shrink these reductions in any way whatsoever. I know that according to this Bloomberg article, "Hospitals Prepare to Cut Care in Medicaid Opt-Out States" (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-14/hospitals-prepare-to-cut-care-in-medicaid-opt-out-states.html) that the American Hospital Association is rightfully concerned about the baleful effects both on their institutions and on the communities they serve. They may be correct. Nevertheless, if the people of those states refusing Medicaid financing want their representatives to refuse financing that would mitigate the baleful effects, then their democratically legitimate decisions must be vindicated. The AHA's preferred policy outcome would be far better served if they lobby the state governments refusing financing. Or if they donate to state executive and state legislative candidates who will accept financing.