EASTON — Sen. Richard Colburn, R-37-Mid-Shore, Thursday called the culmination of events leading to the drastic cuts made by Shore Health System this past week the makings of "the perfect storm."
"Maryland hospitals really struck out on three fronts this year, with sequestration and Medicare cuts, hospital rate requests coming in low and rising overall health care costs," Colburn said. "They are in a real dilemma, and it's not just this state."
Colburn was only one of many concerned voices over the Mid-Shore's major health care provider announcing cuts to staff and services after a year of financial loss due to what it says are budget constraints that have been building over several years.
Shore Health System's President and CEO Kenneth Kozel said because Maryland hospitals are reliant on a state-regulating system to set the rates at which they are reimbursed for services, they must operate within a rigid budget, which, in combination with inflation and Medicare funding cuts due to sequestration, has had the effect of making hospital operating margins across the state the lowest in a 14-year history.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
1 comment:
Yes, and they are gearing up for the effects of Obamacare. And as my grandad would say, "You ain't seen nothin yet". Obama is going to be the biggest job loss law ever.
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