Bulletin Board
Bulletin Board
Health Care and the End of the Shutdown
Passage last week of a continuing resolution to fund the federal government brought the 43-day shutdown to an end – and relief for many health care organizations and the people and communities they serve. The final continuing resolution, which extended federal funding through the end of January of next year, includes: Restoring the delay of reductions of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (Medicaid DSH) payments. Extending authorization for the Medicare Acute Hospital Care at Home program and Medicare telehealth flexibilities. Extending the low-volume hospital adjustment program and the Medicare-dependent hospital program [...]
Federal Health Policy Update for November 13
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for November 7-13. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Please note that during the federal government shutdown, most HHS and other health care-related agencies, with limited exceptions, engaged in little public activity such as announcements, the publication of new regulations, and updating their web sites. Now that the shutdown has ended, normal activity can be expected to resume shortly. The End of the Federal Government Shutdown On Wednesday night the House passed [...]
Labor and Delivery Situation Worsens at Rural Hospitals
Rural America continues to experience the loss of hospital labor and delivery services. With 2025 not yet over, more rural hospitals – 27 – have closed or are in the process of closing their labor and delivery services than did so in 2024 (21). As a result, only 41 percent of the nearly 2400 rural hospitals in the country today provide labor and delivery services. Of the remaining 900 hospitals still providing these services, 127 of them – 13 percent – are considered to be at risk of closing those [...]
Applications Highlight Rural Health Targets
Chronic disease prevention. Greater access to mobile health services. Rural clinician recruitment. Improved emergency medical services. Technological advancements. These are among the priorities articulated by rural states in their applications for federal Rural Health Transformation Program funds according to a Stateline analysis of the materials submitted by ten states with large rural populations. All 50 states submitted applications for a piece of the $50 billion pool that was part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” to help offset some of the massive Medicaid cuts that were a major part [...]
Hospitals Dealing With More Self-Pay Patients, Uncompensated Care
Driven by patients’ loss of health insurance, coverage gaps in insurance policies, an increase in high-deductible plans, and the post-COVID changes in Medicaid eligibility, hospitals are encountering growing numbers of uninsured and self-pay patients. In response, they are pursuing ways to improve billing and bill collection while seeking upfront payments from patients with questionable or no coverage, employing patient navigators, and using AI technology. Learn more about the recent increase in self-pay and uninsured patients and how hospitals are responding to this challenge from the Modern Healthcare article “How hospitals [...]