Bulletin Board
Bulletin Board
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 [...]
Senate Bill Includes Provisions Vital to Many Hospitals
Last weekend the Senate passed a bill that could, if negotiated successfully with and adopted by the House, temporarily end the current federal government shutdown. Included in the Senate-passed bill are so-called health care extenders that are important to many hospitals, including: A delay in cuts in Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (Medicaid DSH) allotments to the states. A temporary extension of COVID-era telehealth flexibilities. Extension of the Medicare low-volume hospital and Medicare-dependent hospital programs. Extension of authorization for Medicare’s Acute Hospital at Home program. Extension of funding for Community Health [...]
Federal Health Policy Update for November 6
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for October 31 – November 6. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Please note that most HHS and other health care-related agencies have indicated that they will not be announcing new policies, publishing proposed regulations, or updating their web sites during the current federal government shutdown; some are engaging in limited exceptions. Congress and the Shutdown Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) today told his caucus that he plans to bring the [...]