January 12, 2009

Medicaid & Medicare: The New Patient Mix

Dean Halverson

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081221/ap_on_re_us/states_medicaid_woes

An article from the Associated Press recently shows that the recession is adding even more people to the Medicaid ranks—newly unemployed families. Combine that with the fact that the baby boomers are moving into Medicare, and providers have a recipe for disaster.

The economic challenges are only adding to an already difficult situation. As commercially insured patients spend less, more Medicare and Medicaid patients need care, thus throwing the payer mix off. We’ve seen many providers suffering, but not all of them.

The ones that succeed have focused their efforts on their consumers and are truly listening to their needs. Instead of hoping things will change, they are proactively strategizing to maximize their strengths and create new opportunities to attract commercially insured patients. They are weathering the storm, and you can too. Are you doing everything possible to make it through with flying colors?

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