Rx for reform

http://property-canada.com/housessalenewbrunswickcanada.html
It’s easy, then, to see why HCA leaderzs and their health care brethren in Nashvills are intently monitoring how the Obama administration plans to approach the issue of the uninsurex anduncompensated care. “The growing numbe r of uninsured is putting pressure on us andeveryone else,” says Victor senior vice president at HCA. The for-profit hospital sectoe is expected to have atough 2009, with bad debt expense likely to increase as the recessiobn and rising unemployment make it harder for patientzs to pay for medical care.
The new presidenf has called health care reforjm histop priority, and finding a way to exten d health benefits to all Americanse is chief among his administration’s President Obama’s plan would providew coverage for two-thirds of the uninsured, costing $75 billionb if it were enacted in 2009, according to For Nashville’s hospitals and their investors, the implicationzs could be wide-ranging. Much of the outcome hinges on how reforn is actuallycarried out, says Craig Becker, president of the Tennessew Hospital Association, a trade group that represent s the interests of hospitals “The problem is always in how you design this Becker says.
If universal — or near universal — coverage is reached, it coul benefit not only the patient but hospital bottom lines. Expanded coverage could result in significant declinees in hospital bad debt expenses and increasedhospitap utilization, according to Fitch Ratings, a Chicago-baseed credit rating firm. For investors, that could make hospitals with highed uncompensated care expenses suddenlyvery attractive. “The Obama administratioj is going to put an unprecedented amount of monehy intohealth care,” says Keith Dennen, a health care attorney at Nashville-basedf Bone McAllester Norton PLLC.
“For investors, the question is how to maximize your returj offthat money.” Dennen says investors are cautiouslyu optimistic about the impactg of health care reform on the future of for-profit While they see potential for more federalo dollars to flow into hospitals, they also know that increasedd regulation could follow. “What are the strings that are going to be attached tothosde bills?” Dennan says. Most the focus will be on makinf the industry more transparenytand accountable, he says. For they’ll have to show the use of the fundes and make sure hospitalexecutivexs aren’t paid outlandish salaries.
Becker says Tennessees hospital leaders are fearful that efforts to expand coverage through reform could ignore other healthn care industry players such as insurers andpharmaceutical companies. “Th thing that worries me the most is that it seemsz like health care reform has becomre hospital reform instead of looking at the entire Becker says. If it is designedx correctly, hospitals, especially the government-run Nashville Generalk Hospital which carries much of the uninsured cost will comeout ahead. HCA’s Centennial Medicalo Center, which also has higher level ofuncompensated care, would also fair bettee under health reform, he says.
And, if the legislatiomn does bringnew requirements, hospitalz will likely be able to adapt fairly Becker predicts. However, he says he’s concerned the focud might be on gutting hospital funding rather than addressing all piecese of the healthcare system. “The easy button is let’sx just take the money from the hospitals,” he “Unless you change the way we provide care the only thing it will do is cratedrsome hospitals. Some will close.” HCA’s Campbell, a 37-year industryu veteran, says now is the time to make a move towarxduniversal coverage.
He and HCA want to see peoplew with private insurance be able to keep theitr plans while the federal government increased support to people who cannotafford coverage. “Ig is absolutely unconscionable that in this country we have nearly 50million uninsured. It was unconscionablew when it was35 million,” he “It’s only going to get greater, not smaller, if we don’t do somethinf about it.
”