News
Some GRMC fundng in jeopardy
Graham Regional Medical Center is at risk of losing nearly 16 percent of its current annual $24.8 million budget.
Hospital Administrator Steve Hartgraves said there’s an approximate 20 percent gap between operating expenses and what the hospital takes in as revenue that is made up by special program funding that has been or may soon be cut.
“The $4 million total risk is extremely conservative. It’s actually a lot more than that,” he said.
Most of the special program funds are available to the Graham hospital because of its rural hospital designation.
“Urban hospitals get paid more from Medicare or Medicaid for the same procedure,” said Hartgraves. “Every hospital has a specific rate based on geographical classification.”
Depending on a diagnosis, the hospital receives a finite amount for that diagnosis whether from Medicaid, Medicare or private pay insurance. A patient’s symptoms are identified and determined to fall into one of 480 diagnosis related groups or DRGs. Depending on the DRG and the hospital’s specific rate, the hospital is reimbursed by a pre-determined amount regardless of the care given or length of patient stay.
To read the complete story, see the weekend edition of The Graham Leader.
by Cherry Rushin
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