(AP Photo/David Goldman)
July 4 (Bloomberg) — Medicare payments to hospitals for care they provide on an outpatient basis would increase 2.1 percent under an Obama administration proposal highlighting a trend toward discouraging unnecessary admissions.

Medicare, the health program for the elderly and disabled, paid about $37 billion in 2013 for outpatient treatment at hospitals and $139 billion for admissions. The proposed increase for 2015 was released yesterday in a regulation from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Hospitals are grappling with insurance expansions under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare. Health insurers have negotiated prices aggressively for plans they sell in new government-run exchanges serving about 8 million people, while Medicaid, the state-run program for the poor with traditionally low payment rates, has grown to cover about 6 million more people.

Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to BenefitsPRO.com, part of your ALM digital membership.

Your access to unlimited BenefitsPRO.com content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:

  • Critical BenefitsPRO.com information including cutting edge post-reform success strategies, access to educational webcasts and videos, resources from industry leaders, and informative Newsletters.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM, BenefitsPRO magazine and BenefitsPRO.com events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com

Already have an account?

 

BenefitsPro Broker ExpoEvent

BenefitsPro Broker Expo will help attendees prepare for new issues, embrace new challenges and find new solutions.

Get More Information
 

BenefitsPRO

Join BenefitsPRO

Don’t miss crucial news and insights you need to navigate the shifting employee benefits industry. Join BenefitsPRO.com now!

  • Unlimited access to BenefitsPRO.com - your roadmap to thriving in a disrupted environment
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
  • Exclusive discounts on BenefitsPRO.com and ALM events.

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join BenefitsPRO

Copyright © 2023 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.