Report: More insured means less costs for indigent care

[TexasTowelie]

or years, the No. 1 issue for hospital executives in New Mexico — whether talking with state lawmakers or county commissioners — was the cost of providing care to patients who showed up at the emergency room without insurance.

Unlike other health care providers, hospitals are required under federal law to provide emergency care to patients without regard for their ability to pay.

But a new report by the Legislative Finance Committee shows that for the first time, hospitals are spending less money on indigent care because more and more patients have some type of private insurance or government-issued Medicaid coverage.

It is the first look at the issue of indigent health care costs since the requirement that most people have health insurance or pay a fine became federal law.

Read more: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/health_and_science/report-more-insured-means-less-costs-for-indigent-care/article_c8f30a87-141a-51b1-b562-c25a9afd977d.html