A group of 42 hospitals challenged the Biden administration over alleged permanent cuts made to Medicare reimbursement without congressional approval, echoing a similar lawsuit also filed this week. Hospitals involved in the complaint include Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, and several facilities within the Trinity Health network across multiple states.
Arkansas hospitals had an estimated $18.045 billion impact on the state’s economy in 2022, according to the Arkansas Hospital Association’s “Economic Impact Report 2024.” The report found that hospitals provided or created 94,400 jobs. That includes 48,200 individuals employed and a total payroll of more than $4.3 billion. Those employees’ incomes generated another $8.1 billion in economic activity, creating another 46,200 jobs. The report said that 12% of Arkansas workers are employed by hospitals or other health care organizations.
On appeal, the appellants raised three points. First, they said the trial court erred in excluding the notarized affidavit and attached business records that were filed with the petition because they were filed with the petition and admissible. Second, they argued the trial court erred in excluding four exhibits on hearsay grounds. Third, the appellants argue the trial court erred in excluding two of those exhibits on best evidence grounds.
Reasons cited for the closures happening nationwide include declining birthrates, staffing shortages, increased costs, and Draconian antiabortion laws. An observer noted that hospitals that appear highly likely and easiest to close are often those most reliant on Medicaid, which reimburses at lower rates than commercial insurers, and obstetric unit loss, specifically, is more common among those units that serve a larger share of Black patients.
MedPAC this month released its annual June “Report to Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System.” It includes discussion about two methods for updating physician and other clinician payments, how to attract participation in alterative payment models, and the potential for site-neutral payment for procedures performed at physicians’ offices or hospital outpatient departments.
Upstate New York plans are supporting new bipartisan legislation to protect benefits for Medicare Advantage enrollees. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and MVP Health Care endorse the bill, which aims to address financial challenges faced by nonprofit health plans after a recent increase in hospital reimbursement rates.