Earlier this week, Congressman Michael Grimm proudly announced a $3 million annual increase in federal spending to the Richmond University Medical Center. However, the funding appears to have come from the health care reform bill that Mr. Grimm adamantly opposes and voted to repeal.
“I have worked tirelessly, from day one, to address the issue of a looming physician shortage,” Mr. Grimm said a statement touting the new funding. “[T]his announcement to reward RUMC with additional residency slots is welcomed news.”
The Staten Island Advance echoed this sentiment, reporting Mr. Grimm “helped the hospital obtain the cash.”
The Graduated Medical Education funding in question, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website, actually appears to have come from the Affordable Care Act. Sure enough, in a spreadsheet posted on the site listing the GME funding increases from Section 5506 of the bill, RUMC’s provider number, 330028, is listed as receiving 31.44 extra slots for new medical residents, the exact amount, rounded up, as the 32 slots Mr. Grimm announced.
However, Mr. Grimm voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would have removed the 5506 funding.
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