Massachusetts hospitals treating high numbers of uninsured patients are protesting changes to state funding policy which they say could cost the big bucks. Traditionally, Massachusetts hospitals have been paid from a state pool for treating uninsured patients coming in through the emergency department. Under the state's health reforms, the officials are changing the way hospitals are reimbursed through this fund.
These changes could cut pay levels substantially in some cases, according to hospital executives and hospital group officials. The new rules, which would take effect on October 1, could lower payments to safety-net hospitals as much as three quarters in some cases, according to the Alliance of Massachusetts Safety Net Hospitals.
To learn more about the reimbursement changes:
- read this piece from The Boston Globe
Related Articles:
Kaiser awards $7M to CA "safety net" hospitals. Report
Trend: Number of uninsured Californians to rise. Report
NC providers to divert indigent from EDs. Report
Overcrowding in the ED: Readers weigh in on causes and solutions. Comments