(Washington, D.C.)– U.S. Senator Tom Harkin says he’s received a commitment from other influential senators to address low Medicaid rates affecting eight Iowa hospitals, including Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake and Spencer Municipal Hospital.
Officials at those hospitals say the’re being inadequately reimbursed for providing care to Medicare patients, and that it’s causing some of them to struggle to keep their doors open.
During negotiations on legislation to extend the Medicare program, Harkin raised the issue with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus and Iowa’s other U-S Senator, Chuck Grassley. Harkin says he’s received a commitment from both to address the issue. He says the fix would likely be included in a Medicare reform package that will be crafted early next year by the Senate Finance Committee.
