Hospitals hit hard by Medicaid refusal

[avaistheone1]

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — Indiana hospitals counting on extra Medicaid dollars from Obamacare have been watching hospitals in other states welcome new patients by the thousands and grow their profits by the millions. Gov. Mike Pence’s decision to refuse Medicaid expansion has hurt hospital bottom lines across the state.

When St. Elizabeth Central hospital closed its emergency room Sept. 3, it led News 18 to ask if that was a move primarily designed to save money. CEO Terry Wilson said “that’s not accurate,” adding that most emergency visits to Central “really amounts to urgent care.”

Wilson isn’t sure how much St. Elizabeth may have lost out on because of the state decision, but pointed to several programs he said the hospital could have introduced or expanded into the community. According to the Obama administration, 216,000 Indiana residents lost the chance for coverage when the governor refused to expand Medicaid.

“Everybody in this community who pays for healthcare — private citizens, businesses, insurance companies, governmental agencies — wants us to be more efficient, more productive,” said Wilson.

http://wlfi.com/2014/10/06/hospitals-hit-hard-by-medicaid-refusal/

[KittyWampus]

1. this is what rationing health care and death panels really looks like- republicans.