The
rollout of the Affordable Care Act has already set off significant change and
uproar around individual insurance plans. As the ACA settles into place in
2014, more change and concerns are coming to small rural hospitals. Under the
ACA, small rural hospitals will see significant reductions in traditional
Medicare payments, and some will see new payment requirements for patient care.
Rural hospitals rely on Medicare payments - which primarily cover older people
- for almost 45 percent of their annual income. The changes in how Medicare
money reaches rural hospitals - and all hospitals around the country - are an
attempt by federal lawmakers to improve health care and reduce costs. Click
here to read the full article by Christina Janney, published on The
Kansan.com.
