With Wyoming legislators rejecting Medicaid expansion, hospitals in the state are exploring ways to offset nearly $117 million in uncompensated care costs.
Wyoming Hospital Association President Eric Boley told the Wyoming Business Report that uncompensated care costs at Wyoming hospitals are increasing about 3 percent annually. "States that have adopted expansion are seeing a 63 percent decrease in uncompensated care at their hospitals," he said.
Hospitals in Wyoming will likely see their uncompensated care rates go up in coming months, as layoffs recently hit the state's coal mines, according to the report.
To offset the rise in uncompensated care costs, Wyoming hospitals will have to make internal changes like service cuts, Mr. Boley told the Wyoming Business Report.
Wyoming Medical Center President and CEO Vickie Diamond told the Wyoming Business Report that the Casper-based hospital's bottom line is stable for now, but if uncompensated care costs keep growing it may have to explore scaling back services.
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