Rural hospitals question whether they can afford Medicare Advantage contracts

Rounds introduces legislation to prevent rural hospital closures

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today introduced legislation to help rural hospitals that are at risk of being closed. The Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program Act would codify an existing pilot program administered by…

Some Rural Hospitals Ditch Medicare Advantage

Rural hospital leaders are questioning whether they can continue to afford to do business with Medicare Advantage companies, and some say the only way to maintain services and protect patients is to end their contracts with the private insurers.  Medicare is the main federal health insurance program for people 65 or older. Participants can enroll in traditional, government-run Medicare or in a Medicare Advantage plan run by a private insurance c…

Troubling Signs from Administration’s Weak Medicare Advantage Oversight

Several troubling indicators point to the Trump administration’s unwillingness to rein in Medicare Advantage (MA) payments and to establish appropriate limits on and oversight of plans. Administrative Acts First came the nomination and confirmation of Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency that oversees Medicare Advantage. Dr. Oz famously championed MA expansion and even Medicare Advantage for All at…

Rural hospitals question whether they can afford Medicare Advantage contracts

Rural hospital leaders are questioning whether they can continue to afford to do business with Medicare Advantage companies, and some say the only way to maintain services and protect patients is to end their contracts with private insurers.

Rural hospitals question whether they can afford Medicare Advantage contracts • Colorado Newsline

The first page of a federal government booklet about Medicare Advantage plans appears on a computer screen. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)This story comes to Newsline from KFF Heath News. Rural hospital leaders are questioning whether they can continue to afford to do business with Medicare Advantage companies, and some say the only way to maintain services and protect patients is to end their contracts with the private insurers. Medicare Adv…

Rural Hospitals Question Whether They Can Afford Medicare Advantage Contracts • Michigan Advance

Jason Merkley, CEO of Brookings Health System in rural South Dakota, says private Medicare plans jeopardized the company's finances while impeding patient care. So last year, Brookings dropped four contracts it had with Medicare Advantage companies. (Robb Long for KFF Health News)Rural hospital leaders are questioning whether they can continue to afford to do business with Medicare Advantage companies, and some say the only way to maintain servi…