High Medicare hospitals seek fair share from Congress

Hospitals with high levels of Medicare patients convinced Congress that they deserved a different rate of payment from other hospitals. Now, prospects are dimming for urban and other hospitals seeking a special funding increase for their high Medicare patient loads. The Prospective Payment Assessment Commission has advised Congress that special treatment should not be granted until further study has been completed. This article looks at both sides of the debate and gives a statistical picture of Medicare-dependent hospitals.