A provision dropped from the final version of the stimulus package under which hospitals could not have contacted former patients for charitable donations likely will prevent reductions in no-cost services for low-income individuals, according to the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, CQ HealthBeat reports.
According to AHP CEO William McGinly, the provision likely would have prompted hospitals to reduce clinics, mammograms, childhood vaccinations and other services provided for low-income individuals (CQ HealthBeat, 2/19).