Yes, hospitals are closing around the country, but even more often, hospitals shut down specific services, especially relatively unprofitable ones like maternity care and behavioral healthcare. This leads to what gets referred to as "care deserts." Closures may not be all bad, but most of them ultimately make it harder for patients to access care — and some patients are more likely than others to be impacted. Many experts will tell you that all hospitals can't be all things to all people amid the U.S.' demographic changes and care advancements, and some argue the closure of some hospitals or services actually has some positive outcomes in terms of efficiencies or quality. But a big problem is that hospitals are responding to the financial incentives created by both government and private insurers, and those incentives aren't always aligned with what society writ large wants from a hospital.
Patients could be spared huge, unexpected bills for ambulance rides under a new plan aimed at closing a gap in the surprise billing law. Many Americans avoid calling 911 when they're having a medical crisis because of cost concerns. Others get stuck with massive unanticipated bills that are a major driver of medical debt in the U.S. A committee of ambulance providers, patient advocates, insurance experts, and other advisers is recommending Congress adopt a tiered payment system for reimbursing out-of-network ambulance rides.
An Alabama hospital was given S&P Global's lowest bond rating of "D" on Wednesday, a day after it defaulted on bond interest payments. Jackson Hospital & Clinic in Montgomery defaulted on about $60 million worth of Medical Clinic Board of the City of Montgomery series 2015 bonds, which comprises 86% of the hospital's long-term debt, the S&P said in a statement explaining why it lowered the hospital's rating to "D" from "CC."
An impoverished city in the Ohio Shenango Valley, facing the closure of two Steward Health Care hospitals, is fighting back, asking a bankruptcy court judge for the chance to acquire the hospitals and save 800 jobs.