U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. has announced that Morton County Hospital has recently been re-designated as a Critical Access Hospital under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a change which will improve the financial status of the hospital. “This change in designation comes after more than a year of work and communication with federal and state health agencies, and I am thrilled to see the application approved,” Marshall said. “Rural healthcare delivery continues to face both financial and workforce challenges. This change in designation offers a more stable reimbursement for the hospital.” Previously, Morton County Hospital was designated as an Acute Care Hospital. When CMS made changes to the location requirements for the Critical Access Hospitals in 2022, Morton County Health System applied for the change in designation, with the support of the senator. While Acute Care and Critical Access Hospitals are similar, Critical Access Hospitals receive allowable cost plus one percent reimbursement for Medicare inpatient and outpatient services. “This change to a Critical Access Hospital is a lifeline not only for the hospital itself but also for the individuals and families of this rural community,” hospital CEO Lisa Swenson said. “The Critical Access Hospital designation will strengthen the hospital’s financial foundation and help to secure its ability to serve the citizens of our region. Without this change, it is unlikely that our hospital would have been able to survive financially.”
Source: Garden City Telegram
