Medicare windfall increases for Massachusetts hospitals at expense of Wisconsin hospitals, others

An obscure provision in the federal health reform law that will increase inpatient Medicare payments to Massachusetts hospitals at the expense of Wisconsin hospitals and others around the country has been expanded to outpatient payments. The result will be another $3 million annual hit for hospitals in the Badger State and a $92 million increase for Massachusetts facilities, according to figures from the Wisconsin Hospital Association. That’s on top of $7 million Wisconsin hospitals are expected to lose in Medicare inpatient payments while Massachusetts hospitals bring in an additional $275 million. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services posted their final outpatient payment rules earlier this month. (WHN, 11/14)