Looming Medicaid cuts mean that US hospitals must prepare for a perfect storm

Eugene Litvak says hospitals could rearrange scheduled admissions as part of efforts to prepare operationally for changes on 1 January

Your report (Millions of Medicaid recipients to face draconian requirements as of 1 January, 13 October) warns that millions may lose Medicaid coverage just as hospitals face rising uncompensated care and growing emergency department demand.

Protecting eligible patients from losing coverage through paperwork must remain the first priority. But hospitals also have a responsibility to prepare operationally for 1 January. They should not compound the coming increase in emergency demand with avoidable peaks they create themselves.