Medicare Raises U.S. Hospital Payment Rates for FY2015.

[elleng]

Source: nyt/reuters

The U.S. government said on Monday that it will increase the operating payments that acute-care and long-term care hospitals receive from Medicare for inpatient care for the federal fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a 1.4 percent rate update for 3,400 acute care hospitals and a 1.1 percent rate update for 435 long-term care hospitals for fiscal year 2015.

Under a final rule released on Monday, CMS also said it would distribute $7.65 billion in payments to hospitals for uncompensated care, a decrease from the $8.56 billion it initially proposed.

The American Hospital Association said it was disappointed in the higher-than-expected payment cuts.

"Today’s rule will make it more difficult for hospitals to maintain their commitment to their communities," Linda Fishman, AHA senior vice president, said in a statement. "These payments provide vital support to hospitals that serve the most vulnerable patients."

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2014/08/04/us/04reuters-usa-healthcare-medicare.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=WireFeed&module=pocket-region&region=pocket-region&WT.nav=pocket-region

[msongs]

1. fortunately our president and congress have untold billions for corporate and military welfare :-)

[valerief]

3. Yeah, but that makes very rich people much richer, and that's the most important thing

in the world.

[FreakinDJ]

2. Maybe if their CEOs would take $400K instead of $4Mil they would "Get By"