Wyoming hospitals look to cut services as uncompensated care costs rise

With Wyoming legislators rejecting Medicaid expansion, hospitals in the state are exploring ways to offset nearly $117 million in uncompensated care costs.

Wyoming Hospital Association President Eric Boley told the Wyoming Business Report that uncompensated care costs at Wyoming hospitals are increasing about 3 percent annually. "States that have adopted expansion are seeing a 63 percent decrease in uncompensated care at their hospitals," he said.

Hospitals in Wyoming will likely see their uncompensated care rates go up in coming months, as layoffs recently hit the state's coal mines, according to the report.

To offset the rise in uncompensated care costs, Wyoming hospitals will have to make internal changes like service cuts, Mr. Boley told the Wyoming Business Report.

Wyoming Medical Center President and CEO Vickie Diamond told the Wyoming Business Report that the Casper-based hospital's bottom line is stable for now, but if uncompensated care costs keep growing it may have to explore scaling back services.

More articles on healthcare finance:

Partners HealthCare's math errors could cause 2,000 hospital layoffs statewide
These 10 hospitals have the biggest surpluses — and they're mostly nonprofit
5 health systems with strong finances

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

 

Featured Whitepapers

Featured Webinars