The hospitals do so to get patients care yes. But Medicare funding is but a small part of the FEDS regulating even in private pay facilities. The ORPHANS take the Medicaid funding as it is provided for their medical care as a survivor. One of the few actual legitimate uses for it. It was meant solely as a safety net for workers and their families who either become disabled or die.
Now you tell me why over half the GOP is pushing Universal Health Care then? GW Bush and the GOP Big Government shills in congress have passed programs Hillary could only dream of getting through. The so called Medicare reform which Frist pushed was patterned after the nightmare called Tenn Care in Frist home state which Hillary and Gore helped start. Among it's biggest shills also is Senator Lamar Alexander-R-TN.
Except, of course, that they are not.