About half of Nebraska hospitals operating in the red

At the time of this posting, Columbus Community Hospital, like many Nebraska hospitals, was facing financial strain due to rising costs and insufficient reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare. According to Chad Van Cleave, the hospital’s vice president of finance, the hospital's operating margin dropped from 14% pre-pandemic to just 0.6% last year, with costs rising by 20%. Despite efforts to contain costs, the hospital was operating in the red. A proposed bill (LB1087) in the Nebraska Legislature could help by bringing in additional federal Medicaid funds, which would be crucial in sustaining rural hospitals like Columbus Community Hospital and preventing cuts to essential community services.

Read the full story: https://www.wowt.com/2024/01/30/about-half-nebraska-hospitals-operating-red/