one of the most honest posts you have ever written. Welcome to the dark side, its lonely here.What is missed in this diatribe is that the losses are factual and presented by hospital CEO's who should know more about the financials than the reporter and even the agents who critique the report.
There are a number of factors that impact a provider's bottom line.
One major item that is not mentioned is the economic impact on Rural communities caused by interstate traffic that bypasses small towns. Motels and restaurants are either overgrown or no longer exist due to lack of foot traffic.
Industry that once flocked to rural America because of low land and labor cost have closed down and outsourced manufacturing overseas. When a major production operation leaves small town workers lose high wages and benefits like health insurance.
When hospitals close there is no incentive for new industry to relocate to those areas.
It's a vicious cycle . . .
And when jobs are lost the young people leave and seek work in larger cities. The majority of citizens left behind are mostly older and sicker which further taxes the health care industry.
Anyone who thinks that MA is like an evil monster preying on the health care system is misdirected. The carriers are run by capitalists that manipulate the system so they can pad their bottom line by squeezing taxpayers and providers.
It's the American way . .