Kentucky's Rural Hospitals, Struggle Financially After Report Monday.
Kentuckiana, healthcare possibly in jeopardy after State Auditor Adam Edelen releases report that shows more than two thirds of Kentucky’s rural hospitals are below the national average on a system that determines financial strength, and furthermore one third are in poor financial status.
The report does suggest these hospitals are struggling due to the decline in Private Insurance after the inception of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) often referred to as Obamacare. The ACA also listed obesity as a chronic disease allowing insurance holders to receive medical weight loss benefits. This report also coming after an article by Ja’Nel Johnson that explores Kynect, Kentucky’s state-based health insurance exchange, and it being nationally recognized as a success.
In Adam’s letter to Secretary Audrey Haynes, and Medicaid Commissioner Lisa Lee at The Cabinet for Health and Family Services in frankfort, Adam says, “The results of this study are meant to assist in understanding the challenges that face small, rural hospitals, which provide healthcare to 45 percent of Kentuckians and are key economic drivers in their communities.”
In an article featured on WFPL.org (WFPL News 89.3FM) written by Ryland Barton, Capitol bureau chief for Kentucky Public Radio. Barton writes “At a press conference, Edelen said rural hospitals used to assume that many clients would be covered by private insurance, which reimburses hospitals more handsomely than Medicaid.” Barton goes on to explain the increase in government funded health care and the decrease in private insurance. In his full article.
One could wonder why Medicaid/Madicare pays so poor while every taxpayer in the country is forced to pay into it? There is a vague explanation in "Observation 7" of the "Executive Summary" in the report, Where I read, “Weaknesses in the contracts between CHEFS and MCOs appear to be hindering improvements from being made to the managed care system in the Commonwealth, and are likely contributing factors to the declining fiscal health of many providers.”
Though I agree, I will avoid political views in this article and spare you the yacking on rather cost shifting is dead or alive. That being said, This further emphasizes why programs like that of Dr Dowe’s Med-Life-Fit are so important. It’s an extremely valuable opportunity to stop illness before it happens and/or reverse early signs when possible. Med Life Fit currently accepts all major Insurances.
