Highland District Hospital lobbies for improved Medicaid reimbursement for maternity services
Highland District Hospital is committed to serving the maternity needs of the women in our community.
Highland District Hospital is the only hospital serving the maternity needs of the women in a five-county area (Highland, Fayette, Adams, Brown and Pike).
As of January 2012, Brown County General Hospital and Fayette Memorial Hospital closed their Maternity Departments.
Since their closing, Highland District Hospital has seen a 12% increase in volume for a total of 395 deliveries in 2011.
However, this increase in volume has also meant an increase in Medicaid deliveries. Medicaid represented 70% of the deliveries in 2011 (a 7% increase).
Highland District Hospital receives 29 cents on the dollar for every Medicaid birth.
According to a news release from the hospital, "HDH is sensitive to the challenges that are presented with Medicaid reimbursement from the State of Ohio.
"Because of our concerns and continued commitment to the women of our community, we are being pro-active in our approach to continue to provide this service. We are currently working with our state representatives, and the Ohio Hospital Association to improve reimbursement for Medicaid patients."
According to the Ohio Department of Health, 19 hospitals have closed their maternity units since 2004. The most recent maternity unit to close its doors was at Brown County General Hospital in Georgetown, which since has become Southwest Regional Medical Center. The unit shut its doors in April.
[[In-content Ad]]"Rural hospitals across the state have been closing their Maternity Departments due to the lack of Medicaid reimbursement," HDH said.
"Without Highland District Hospital’s Maternity Department, many women in this region would have to travel 1-1.5 hours to receive maternity services. Again, we are committed to serving the maternity needs of the women of our community. We are working diligently with our legislator’s to increase Medicaid reimbursement to ensure long term stability of our maternity services."