An organization representing Wisconsin’s rural hospitals is “cautiously optimistic” the health care reform legislation signed into law Tuesday will help its members. Despite Wisconsin having a relatively high rate of insured, Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperatives says the new law will have more of an effect on rural Wisconsinities.
RWHC, which represents 35 Wisconsin hospitals, says Rep. Ron Kind (D-La Crosse) was able to get a value index included in the bill, which should bring more equitable Medicare funding to the state. Wisconsin already tends to spend less per Medicare beneficiary along with being rated number one state in health care quality, according to Jeremy Levin, Director of Advocacy. “Not only do we do it for less; we do it better,” says Levin.
Hospitals should see a difference in their Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates, but Levin admits only time will tell exactly how well the new system will work.
Levin says his group hasn’t taken a position on socialized medicine, but this legislation isn’t that. He sees it more as a streamlining of the current employer-sponsored system and those covered by their employer “won’t see a marked difference.”
Paul Knoff-WCCN reports (1:20)