Published: Monday, April 6, 2015 at 11:19 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, April 6, 2015 at 11:19 p.m. <\/p>\n
DAYTONA BEACH Its a $14 million question for Halifax Health with no immediate answer. <\/p>\n
Stalled negotiations between state and federal officials threaten to reduce millions of dollars in funding that the 678-bed Daytona Beach-based public hospital system depends on to treat uninsured patients. <\/p>\n
Gov. Rick Scott also changed course Monday and said he would not support expanding Medicaid coverage right now another key issue for the hospital that could help its bottom line by providing more insured patients. <\/p>\n
Despite this, Halifax Health officials say they are cautiously optimistic that a compromise will be reached that will preserve the funding. <\/p>\n
I do believe there is adequate time for the administration to work out something that benefits not only Halifax but all the safety-net providers that are at risk, said Deanna Schaeffer, governmental affairs officer for Halifax Health. <\/p>\n
Its an issue that will be closely watched by Halifax Health, which provides about $50 million in uncompensated care and community health programs, Schaeffer said. <\/p>\n
Otherwise, the hospital is seeing positive financial trends, and the rating agency Standard & Poors has upgraded the hospitals credit rating from BBB+ to A minus, Chief Financial Officer Eric Peburn reported at the hospitals monthly Board of Commissioners meeting Monday night. <\/p>\n
What happens in Tallahassee, though, could have big ramifications for the Sunshine States health care landscape. <\/p>\n
Federal officials have said they will no longer continue the low-income pool in its present form after June 30. The $2.2 billion program provides money to hospitals across the state to treat indigent patients. About $1.3 billion of the programs funds comes from the federal government. <\/p>\n
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Health care funds in doubt for area hospitals<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Published: Monday, April 6, 2015 at 11:19 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, April 6, 2015 at 11:19 p.m. DAYTONA BEACH Its a $14 million question for Halifax Health with no immediate answer. Continue reading