Hospitals with the special designation won't offer inpatient care. (Photo by G. Rosenke, Unsplash) |
She writes: "Rural emergency hospitals receive more than $3 million in federal funding a year and higher Medicare reimbursements in exchange for closing all inpatient beds and providing 24/7 emergency care."
There are downsides to the changes, both for rural residents and the hospitals. Rose writes, "People might have to travel further for treatments for illnesses that require inpatient stays, like pneumonia or Covid-19. In some of the communities where hospitals have converted to the new designation, residents are confused about what kind of care they can receive."
According to the AP report: “'It’s ironic' that the facilities that might need the most help can’t afford to take the risk, said Carrie Cochran-McClain, chief policy officer at the National Rural Health Association. She pointed to having to give up certain services and benefits, such as a federal discount program for prescription drugs."
Only 19 hospitals have made the change so far, according to the University of North Carolina's Sheps Center for Health Services Research. But "Brock Slabach, the National Rural Health Association’s chief operations officer, told the AP that upwards of 30 facilities are interested in converting to rural emergency hospitals this year."
There are downsides to the changes, both for rural residents and the hospitals. Rose writes, "People might have to travel further for treatments for illnesses that require inpatient stays, like pneumonia or Covid-19. In some of the communities where hospitals have converted to the new designation, residents are confused about what kind of care they can receive."
According to the AP report: “'It’s ironic' that the facilities that might need the most help can’t afford to take the risk, said Carrie Cochran-McClain, chief policy officer at the National Rural Health Association. She pointed to having to give up certain services and benefits, such as a federal discount program for prescription drugs."
Only 19 hospitals have made the change so far, according to the University of North Carolina's Sheps Center for Health Services Research. But "Brock Slabach, the National Rural Health Association’s chief operations officer, told the AP that upwards of 30 facilities are interested in converting to rural emergency hospitals this year."
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