Hopefully the new President and cabinet will offer some relief in this areas. 50% of the hospitals in the US already are either bordering on insolvency or getting very close. In the related reading below there is an entire series on Desperate Hospitals that describe how many are coping and how some have closed under economic pressure in the last few months, not a pretty picture. BD
Just as the economic crisis is driving many workers into the ranks of the unemployed and uninsured, the Bush administration has callously decided to reduce Medicaid payments to hospitals for their outpatient services. With tax revenues collapsing, many states will be unable to pay their share of Medicaid costs, let alone make up for the loss of federal support.
The hospitals can continue to provide such services. But they will now be reimbursed at the much lower rates for other Medicaid providers.
Editorial - Wrong Move at the Wrong Time - NYTimes.com
Hat Tip: Kevin, MD
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