NEARLY 60% OF NEBRASKA'S SMALLER RURAL HOSPITALS OPERATE AT A LOSS, HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION SAYS. PENDING LEGISLATION COULD HELP

LINCOLN- A new survey of Nebraska hospitals showed that about half were operating in the red, and the share was even more dramatic, nearly 60%, for small rural hospitals. Driving that financial picture, says the Nebraska Hospital Association, which released the survey results, are rising workforce and pharmaceutical costs, along with reimbursement coverage gaps from Medicaid and Medicare.

At risk if the trend continues unaddressed are cuts ranging from patient medical programs to staff support services such as child care, hospital representatives said during a news conference. The association and its members are advocating for the adoption of the Hospital Quality Assurance and Access Assessment Act, currently before the Legislature as Legislative Bill 1087.

The bill could lead to up to $1 billion more in federal funds for Nebraska hospitals, said Jeremy Nordquist, president of the Nebraska Hospitals Association. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the Governor’s Office are working with the association to help obtain the higher reimbursement for Medicaid and Medicare patients, said Nordquist.

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