Summary
Significant decline scheduled procedures. Greater activity in Emergency Room combined with increase in uninsured and underinsured patients. A difficult outlook for Acute care facilities.
Analysis
I completely agree with this article and the conclusions drawn. We see exactly the same situations as noted here. Canceled elective surgeries, even those that are covered by insurance as patient put off non emergent surgeries so as to not absorb their portion of these costs. More so today than ever before, corrective surgeries are looked upon as luxuries that can be done without for now. Putting up with knee pain and foregoing a knee replacement is an easy decision when you are worried about economic conditions that can leave one without income. Even more elective procedures, like Lasik are likely to be hit even harder, wear the glasses and save the dough.
We also see a higher than anticipated ED volume and an increase in uninsured patients, further stressing facilities that already deal with lower reimbursements. Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements and enrollment restrictions severely impact a hospital's ability to continue operations.
In my opinion, the Obama administration can't get here fast enough.
