Danville Register and Bee
Friday, July 20, 2007
Friday, July 20, 2007
DANVILLE - Danville Regional Medical Center got word Friday that it is in compliance with Medicare participation.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services made the announcement after an unannounced survey conducted for a week during April.
“We’re obviously pleased that in an unannounced survey, every key area of the medical center that was reviewed was demonstrated to be in compliance with Medicare Conditions of Participation,” said Ruth McDaniel, interim CEO of Danville Regional.
A medical facility inspector from the Virginia Department of Health conducted the survey from April 17-25.
The report stated that the hospital “demonstrated compliance” in nursing services, emergency services, physical environment, patient rights, and quality assessment and performance.
“Meeting the high quality standards of the Medicare and Medicaid programs is important to both the community and to Danville Regional,” McDaniel said. “It indicates to participants in those programs that the hospital has met the CMS standards, and it allows the hospital to be reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid for providing those services.”
Nearly two-thirds of the hospital’s patients get health care from Medicare or Medicaid programs, McDaniel said. “So, I am tremendously proud of our associates for the outcome of this survey,” she said.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services made the announcement after an unannounced survey conducted for a week during April.
“We’re obviously pleased that in an unannounced survey, every key area of the medical center that was reviewed was demonstrated to be in compliance with Medicare Conditions of Participation,” said Ruth McDaniel, interim CEO of Danville Regional.
A medical facility inspector from the Virginia Department of Health conducted the survey from April 17-25.
The report stated that the hospital “demonstrated compliance” in nursing services, emergency services, physical environment, patient rights, and quality assessment and performance.
“Meeting the high quality standards of the Medicare and Medicaid programs is important to both the community and to Danville Regional,” McDaniel said. “It indicates to participants in those programs that the hospital has met the CMS standards, and it allows the hospital to be reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid for providing those services.”
Nearly two-thirds of the hospital’s patients get health care from Medicare or Medicaid programs, McDaniel said. “So, I am tremendously proud of our associates for the outcome of this survey,” she said.
8 comments:
"Nearly two-thirds of the hospital’s patients get health care from Medicare or Medicaid programs"
Sounds like you would be looking for any opportunity you can to improve on that payor mix, i.e. more commercially insured patients.
Can't. Danville is known for its high welfare dependance and aging population. Before the buy out, we took care of everybody within the area. Now, everyone with insurance is going out of town for their healthcare needs.
Yep, the local payor mix has been POOR for years
True, the payor mix has been less than desirable for years...but at least a few years ago we actually tried to compete for the commercially insured dollars.
So here we go again. A good news lead story and nothing but mealy-mouths to respond with post. The first poster who mentioned "Nearly two-thirds of.." well guess what, it's always been two thirds. See Sentinel Event's post in another thread...three old annual reports and three years of two thirds Medicare and Medicaid.
That is true, but, in the past we had the private insurance to offset the low payments of the government programs.
Worth a repost from another string:
With reference to payor mix, I went back and did a little digging in old annual reports (there haven't been too many in recent years). Here are some numbers from 1999, 2000, and 2001:
1999 - 38% Commercial, BCBS, and HMO/PPO/Self (10%, 11% and 17% respectively)
2000 - 30% Commercial, BCBS, HMO/PPO/Self (9%, 13%, 18%)
2001 - 30% Commercial, BCBS, HMO/PPO/Self (9%, 14%, 17%)
So, yes, payor mix has always been an uphill battle. Back then, however, our biggest "enemy" was that people would drive down 86 to go to Duke. Now the biggest enemy is a public perception that the hospital cannot do the job adequately and safely. How hard is it to turn that ship around?
You didn't do the math. Even "back in the day" the commercial dollars were leaving town. Look at Sentinel's post of old annual reports.
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