Yesterday, the American Hospital Association (AHA), American Medical Association (AMA), and the American Nurses Association (ANA) released a report finding the Medicare cuts called for under the Budget Control Act of 2011 will result in the loss of approximately 766,000 health care jobs by 2012.  Unless Congress acts by the end of the year, beginning in 2013, Medicare providers will receive a two percent across-the-board cut to their reimbursement.  Medicare benefits will not be cut nor will payments to certain low-income programs provided in Medicare (like the low-income subsidy provided in Medicare Part D).  (For additional information on the Budget Control Act, click here.)

The Report estimates that in 2013, the first year of the sequestration cuts, almost 500,000 health care related jobs will be lost.  California, Florida, and Texas are expected to experience the biggest job losses while Alaska, DC, and Wyoming are expected to experience the fewest job losses.

Later this week the Administration is slated to release its report detailing how it intends to implement the sequestration cuts that are slated to begin in January 2013.  This report was due to Congress last week, but the Administration delayed the report due to the complexity of the issues involved.