Critical Times for Small and Rural Hospitals

Although Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) are protected from many of the disruptions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, their fates will differ greatly depending on their individual circumstances. Geography, the right mix of services, affiliation with larger partners, and, most critically, cuts of preferential reimbursements that CAHs currently receive but that are far from guaranteed in the future—all of these play a role.

Thanks to the decision of many states not to expand Medicaid, whether a small rural hospital or critical access hospital survives may depend on a host of variables over which leaders have little or no control. For instance, many organizations stand to benefit as more of the previously uninsured acquire health insurance, unless, of course, your state decided to not expand Medicaid. 

Read the article in HealthLeaders Media here.

Provider Shortage Worsening, Demand Growing

Health and Human Services spokeswoman Erin Shields Britt says continuing to build the primary care workforce will take time, but she notes President Obama's budget working its way through Congress has several new ways to expand the primary care workforce, which includes nurse practitioners and pediatricians. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), she says, significantly increases the number of primary care providers in rural and underserved areas and increases Medicare and Medicaid payment for services delivered by primary care practitioners.

An article in USA Today this week outlines some of the challenges that continue to get in the way of training and placing providers. The challenges include the rising cost of medical school, more lucrative specialty care and scope of practice laws. Read the article here.