The Trump administration's CMS proposed expanding a policy to require Medicare to pay the same rate for outpatient services regardless of delivery location, targeting hospital reimbursement practices and aiming to save billions, though hospitals oppose the move citing patient care complexities.
Munson Healthcare has announced a 3-year "transformation plan" aimed at consolidating health care services, expanding access to virtual and outpatient care, and reducing wait times for patients. The plan will impact operations across Munson's seven hospitals in northern Michigan, with some hospitals becoming regional hospitals with specialized inpatient services and others focusing on outpatient care. The changes are driven by industry trends towards outpatient services and population disparities among the hospitals. The plan also aims to improve patient services by reducing wait times and implementing a single patient record system. No employee layoffs are planned, but job duties may shift. Some nursing associations have expressed concerns about reducing vital services in rural areas.