Briefly Noted
• American Hospital Association (AHA; Washington) officials are warning that Medicare cuts could force seven out of 10 hospitals into the red within three years unless Congress increases the reimbursements, reported the Salt Lake Tribune in Utah. The reimbursements are expected to be cut by $71.2 billion between 1998 and 2002, affecting all hospital inpatient and outpatient services, including home health and long term care. Patient care has not been affected by the cuts because hospitals have shifted the burden to employees, granting low raises and reducing benefits, said one hospital executive. Lewin Group (Harrisburg, PA) issued a report, commissioned by AHA, that total Medicare margins for hospitals will fall to a negative 7.8% by 2002. Home health service margins will be a negative 11.4% by that year.
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