With practically all of Washington now expecting the automatic budget cuts -- "sequestration" in D.C.-talk -- to take effect, university medical schools are alarmed to see they will lose money two ways, The Gainesville Sun reports.
First, the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation are cutting back on research grants by 5 percent; second, Medicare pay to faculty doctors and teaching hospitals will be trimmed 2 percent.
Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Scott released an angry letterhe sent to President Obama blaming him for the malfunction in Washington that has led to the pending budget cuts. Scott also scheduled a press conference in Jacksonville for late Thursday morning.
Earlier this week, the White House released a list of programs that would be hit if Congress allowed the cuts to go into effect. While Medicaid and KidCare would be left intact, the Florida Hospital Association estimated its members would lose $130 million this year if sequestration goes into effect, as Health News Floridareported.