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Pocono News Section
Lawmakers and Hospital Leaders Discuss Medicare Shortfalls
Lawmakers and Hospital Leaders Discuss Medicare Shortfalls - Monday, January 11, 2010 at 11:17AM EST
Reported by: Eric Deabill
Monday, Jan 11, 2010 @ 11:17am EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- Hospital leaders from across Northeastern Pennsylvania came together this morning. They say they're not getting the Medicare reimbursements they deserve.
Northeastern Pennsylvania hospitals serve about 165,000 Medicare beneficiaries, but officials say low reimbursements are plaguing their bottom line.
As a result Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey along with Congressman Paul Kanjorski came together this morning. They talked about how they can help fix the problem at Mercy Hospital in Scranton.
And itŐs a big problem, a problem thatŐs costing local hospitals about 32 million dollars. This morning the senators talked about plans to fix what is known as the "Medicare Area Wage Index System."
They say they're working to correct the problem in the current versions of the House and Senate healthcare reform bills.
If nothing is done hospital officials in our area worry they won't be able to expand services, attract the right doctors and care for patients in the proper way.
Mercy Health Partners President Kevin Cook said, ŇItŐs vitally important for Mercy Health Partners to get 508 support. Its $5.6 million for Mercy on an annual basis. That's the difference between us continuing to grow and expand services and us having to contract services in our community."
Senator Bob Casey said, ŇIf we have a wage rate that is not competitive, we won't be able to attract the workforce that we need to deliver the kind of quality care that we have in Northeast Pennsylvania."
Our local politicians say Northeastern Pennsylvania is one of the few areas of the country where the Medicare reimbursement issue is a big problem. They say they hope to fix it in the new national healthcare bill so it will be a permanent fix. | | |
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