Hospital association joins 2013 budget fray

CRANSTON – The Hospital Association of Rhode Island says the state’s proposed budget for 2013 includes “more than $18 million in reduced payments for hospitals and will severely harm their ability to care for Rhode Islanders.”
In particular, HARI is seeking to change a budget proposal that it says would eliminate upper payment limit and premium tax payments to hospitals.
In making its case, HARI claimed that “hospitals understand state budget challenges – they are also struggling. The majority of hospitals in Rhode Island recorded operating losses last year and two have entered receivership.”
Further, HARI reports, during the first five of months of fiscal 2012, hospitals have incurred more than $22 million in operating losses.
Hospitals “cannot carry the burden of achieving a balanced budget,” HARI’s April 5 newsletter warned. It has set up a Grassroots Action Center to lobby legislators. &#8226

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