Health News
- Kentucky Hospitals Say They're Losing Money On Obamacare, As Cost Of Treating New Medicaid Patients Exceeds Reimbursements
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Kentucky hospitals are struggling financially because of the billions of dollars in cuts caused by the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and many aren't sure they will survive,...
- As Edelen Begins Hearings On Rural Hospitals' Finances, State Gives Figures On Medicaid Expansion And Reimbursement
By Al Cross Kentucky Health News The expansion of the federal-state Medicaid program funneled $284 million to Kentucky health-care providers in the first quarter of the year, the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services says in a report prepared for...
- Health Departments Raise, Or Try To Raise, Tax Rates To Offset State Cuts, Higher Benefit Costs And Medicaid Payment Problems
Some county health departments are trying, and others may try, to increase property-tax rates to make up for Medicaid shortfalls, program cuts and the rising costs of employee benefits so they can continue providing essential public health services for...
- Among Health Providers Having Difficulty With Medicaid Managed Care, Cumberland Valley District Health Department Stands Out
The financial struggle that recently led to 14 layoffs and an increase in furlough days for the Cumberland Valley District Health Department continues. Other health departments have reported such difficulties, but it may be one of those hurt most....
- Choose Wisely, Illinois: Alternatives For Balancing The Medicaid Budget
On Thursday, April 19, 2012, the Governor released a proposal for the reduction of the current $2.7 billion Medicaid budget deficit. The proposal, developed with a group of legislators on the Medicaid Commission, includes $2 billion in cuts to eligibility...
Health News
Home-health agency for Madison, Estill and Powell counties says it has to cut staff because of issues with Medicaid and Medicare
Declining reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare are behind the Madison County Health Department's layoff of seven home-health employees last week. Director Nancy Crew said the cuts should not mean a reduction in care but that cuts were being made because "we've done all we can do without involuntary layoffs," Bill Robinson of the Richmond Register reports. The department's MEPCO subsidiary, which has offered home-health services in Madison, Estill and Powell counties since 1974, has been under financial pressure for two years despite cutting costs and not filling eight now-vacant positions. It had a deficit last year of $610,000.
Only about 15 percent of MEPCO's revenue comes from private insurance, said David Reed, the health department's financial director. That leaves MEPCO with a disproportionate number of Medicaid patients at a time when those re-reimbursements often are denied by managed-care companies, Reed said. Challenging those denials is a complicated process, sometimes requiring going to court to recover costs. The problem is not all with Medicaid. MEPCO?s Medicare reimbursements began a steep decline from nearly $3.24 million in 2008 to $2.55 million in 2012. (Read more)
Only about 15 percent of MEPCO's revenue comes from private insurance, said David Reed, the health department's financial director. That leaves MEPCO with a disproportionate number of Medicaid patients at a time when those re-reimbursements often are denied by managed-care companies, Reed said. Challenging those denials is a complicated process, sometimes requiring going to court to recover costs. The problem is not all with Medicaid. MEPCO?s Medicare reimbursements began a steep decline from nearly $3.24 million in 2008 to $2.55 million in 2012. (Read more)
- Kentucky Hospitals Say They're Losing Money On Obamacare, As Cost Of Treating New Medicaid Patients Exceeds Reimbursements
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Kentucky hospitals are struggling financially because of the billions of dollars in cuts caused by the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and many aren't sure they will survive,...
- As Edelen Begins Hearings On Rural Hospitals' Finances, State Gives Figures On Medicaid Expansion And Reimbursement
By Al Cross Kentucky Health News The expansion of the federal-state Medicaid program funneled $284 million to Kentucky health-care providers in the first quarter of the year, the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services says in a report prepared for...
- Health Departments Raise, Or Try To Raise, Tax Rates To Offset State Cuts, Higher Benefit Costs And Medicaid Payment Problems
Some county health departments are trying, and others may try, to increase property-tax rates to make up for Medicaid shortfalls, program cuts and the rising costs of employee benefits so they can continue providing essential public health services for...
- Among Health Providers Having Difficulty With Medicaid Managed Care, Cumberland Valley District Health Department Stands Out
The financial struggle that recently led to 14 layoffs and an increase in furlough days for the Cumberland Valley District Health Department continues. Other health departments have reported such difficulties, but it may be one of those hurt most....
- Choose Wisely, Illinois: Alternatives For Balancing The Medicaid Budget
On Thursday, April 19, 2012, the Governor released a proposal for the reduction of the current $2.7 billion Medicaid budget deficit. The proposal, developed with a group of legislators on the Medicaid Commission, includes $2 billion in cuts to eligibility...