Rural hospitals, nursing homes hard hit by Bush plan

[sabra]

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2007/01/rural-hospitals-nursing-homes-hard-hit.html

Rural hospitals, nursing homes hard hit by Bush plan

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Many rural hospitals and nursing homes would get fewer federal dollars under a proposal to save Medicaid almost $4 billion over the next five years -- a change that would have "a significant economic impact on a substantial number" of health care providers, the Bush administration acknowledges.

The White House recommendation says that Medicaid payments to health care providers operated by local governments such as counties cannot exceed costs. The rule says health care providers -- not a state or local government -- must get all of the reimbursement they are entitled to get when they treat a Medicaid patient.

"We expect this rule to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, specifically health care providers that are operated by units of government," the proposed rule says.

[fasttense]

1. The bushes giving back to the people who voted for him. n/t

[lastliberalintexas]

2. And you know who I blame in large part? The doctors

For the past several years the medical profession has, by and large, allowed itself to be used as a propaganda tool of Big Insurance. If you don't limit your right to sue a bad doctor, you'll lose your bad doctor! Oh the horror!

The docs have climbed into bed with the repubs in order to push tort "reform", all the while ignoring other more important issues. Indeed, Texas docs endorsed Perry in 2002 even though the SOB had just vetoed fast pay legislation and had sided with insurers re: reimbursements allowed by policies. Unfortuntely, now the docs are getting what they've asked for.


And I know that there have been some good people in the medical profession during this time too. I have some in my family, even, who still support Dems and who have tried to convince their colleagues that they'd been sold a bill of goods. After all, docs have done nothing but bitch for the last 6 years about Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements going down the drain, yet all the while they continued to support the SOBs who are doing the cutting.

But then, as a doctor friend of mine says, I should actually be grateful that the docs are on the wrong side of the "revolution" and thus unintentionally helping to bring about universal healthcare. Hope he's right. :)

[KT2000]

10. Agree!

Doctors have so much power but I am disappointed in the way they use it.
Wish people would read the charters of the state medical associations. They exist to assure adequate financial rewards - not to serve the health and well being of the citizenry. Unfortunately they are also shrouded in the myth that they put patients first.
I think the burnouts are in control.

[rodeodance]

3. more and more rural smal town hospitals are selling out to big

corporations like Humana

this will lead some more to do so.

[depakid]

4. Attention rural voters and seniors

This is what supporting Republicans will get you.

You reap what you sow.

[Lasher]

5. Republicans would be toast forever if we could help people understand this simple truth

Republicans like rich people and their money. They don't care much for the unwashed masses, which to them is everybody except the richest 10%. They don't like our social programs because they help said masses more than their wealthy elite pals. Better to spend money on tax cuts for billionaires and war profiteering, they figure.

This is what it's really all about. Joe Sixpack has always been a fool to vote for any Republican.

I'm encouraged by a good start with Senator Webb's bill to restore VA educational benefits to the level that they were after WWII. If we keep at it maybe people will remember that Democrats represent the interests of all Americans and not just rich people.

[lonestarnot]

7. Amen!

[brentspeak]

9. Not all rural voters vote Republican

And here, in non-rural New Jersey, we've got an inordinate number of numbskulls who do vote Republican.

[superconnected]

6. 4 billion is a drop in the bucket to what bush has spent and wll spend

on the war.

Guess we know where his prioritys are.

[uppityperson]

8. Does this mean that no profit can be made?

that payments can only= costs (staff + equipment + rent + all that)? I didn't think Medicaid paid much anyway? Thought they greatly discount what they pay.

[rcdean]

11. They are strangling medical entities run by local govs

As I read it they are preventing such med facilities from billing the patient or insurer for costs that exceed medicaid reimbursements. At the same time they are freezing or reducing medicaid reimbursements. The squeeze is on.

[Vinca]

12. This amounts to about 20 days of war.

The priorities of this administration are upside down.

[Mnemosyne]

13. Our small-town/rural hospital delivered the last baby here in Nov.

Women in labor now have to ride 35 to 45 miles, hell, maybe even drive it. This is rural NW PA and the weather for Oct. to April can change quickly, actually endangering the mother, baby, driver and anyone else out on the tundra. Many in the area have Medicaid due to lack of employment.

I wonder how this will effect those on dialysis?

The administration here claimed no money, laid off 3/4 the workers and then did major remodeling.

Another rural/small-town, 12 miles from here, closed it's hospital completely a couple years ago.

Such a shame. Greed endangers all of our health.

[jwirr]

14. THIS will force privatization of county homes and hospitals.