Rural Hospitals Underpaid by Medicare Advantage

Rural Hospitals Underpaid by Medicare Advantage

A Critical Access Hospital in New Mexico spoke with Modern Healthcare about their experience with Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage has become more popular with Medicare patients but rural hospitals are struggling to receive the appropriate reimbursement rates.

“Given our cash situation and our desire to get our past claims processed, we felt forced, that we had to accept those terms,” Patten said.

Patten’s story echoes a narrative of low reimbursements and uneven leverage between carrier and hospital from rural hospitals across the country.