Struggling rural hospitals in Pa. to test new funding model

"The current incentives in the health care system are not appropriate for keeping our community healthy."

Brett Sholtis/Transforming Health Bio Recent Stories Brett Sholtis is WITF’s Transforming Health reporter, covering health policy and community health issues that affect Pennsylvanians. Brett strives to share personal stories that have a tie to broad issues and emerging trends. He seeks to give voice to diverse viewpoints, including those of people living with mental illness, disability and those living in poverty. He plays a key role in WITF’s mental health series, Through the Cracks, which reports on problem areas in mental health services and efforts to reduce stigma around those living with behavioral disorders. Previously, Brett was a business reporter at the York Daily Record, where his work included award-winning examinations of the nuclear power industry and food safety. He is a University of Pittsburgh graduate and a Pennsylvania Army National Guard veteran.

(Harrisburg) — Five rural Pennsylvania hospitals are testing a pilot program that aims to keep them financially viable and help them better target resources to patients.

The plan replaces the typical “fee for services” payment structure with something called a “global budget model.”

Rural hospitals have unique challenges, said Andy Carter, CEO of Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania, which supports the measure. Those hospitals face declining numbers of patients, and more of their patients are on Medicare and Medicaid, which pay less for services than commercial insurance. Rural hospitals also have a harder time affording needed health care professionals.

The global budget model sends a fixed amount to each hospital every month that allows it to target resources to what it needs, such as substance abuse or mental health services, Carter said.

“Normally you wouldn’t have had the money to do that,” Carter said. “Now you have this fixed pot of resources that allows you to build the program for better mental health care in the community.”

David Hoff is CEO of Wayne Memorial Hospital, which is testing out the program. Hoff said the new model frees up the hospital to put resources where they are needed.

“We think health care really needs to change,” Hoff said. “We think the current incentives in the health care system are not appropriate for keeping our community healthy.”

The program will also keep at-risk hospitals open, and save jobs, said Department of Health Secretary Rachel Levine, who hopes to see 30 hospitals participating by January 2021.

The program is part of a broader Department of Health partnership with the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. That effort is tied to Republican-led legislation seeking a $25 million grant and seeking to develop a “Rural Health Redesign Center.”

The model won’t change anything for the way patients pay their bills, said Department of Insurance spokesman Ron Ruman. The difference lies in how the insurers pay the hospital.

Commercial insurers Highmark, UPMC and Geisinger are particpating, Ruman said. Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman is working to bring other insurers on board.

Ruman said the change could lead to lower patient costs, as doctors are able to provide more services outside of an emergency department setting, focusing on issues in those communities such as diabetes or smoking.

“The hope, here, is the treatments are more effective and efficient,” Ruman said.

Participating hospitals are:

Barnes Kasson in Susquehanna, Susquehanna County

Endless Mountains in Montrose, Susquehanna County

Jersey Shore in Jersey Shore, Lycoming County

UPMC Kane in Kane, McKean County

Wayne Memorial in Honesdale, Wayne County