Privatizing Medicare would hurt rural hospitals

Recently a relative of mine was rushed to the ER in Polson, stabilized, then transported to Missoula a few hours later. Having worked 30 years as an RN, I am well aware how critical, literally, the initial care in our local hospital mattered in terms of outcome.

One third of Montana's population lives in rural areas. Keeping rural hospitals open is absolutely necessary for health, jobs, and the economy.

Studies by University of Pennsylvania and by the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform both reveal that it's low reimbursement from private insurers that cause financial losses to rural hospitals, not the amount of reimbursement received from Medicare and Medicaid.

Rural hospitals have low patient volume but still have high fixed costs: "... the amounts private plans pay, not Medicare or Medicare payments, determine whether a rural hospital loses money."

When Tim Sheehy proposes privatizing Medicare, I fear what will happen to rural hospitals. Because low reimbursement from private plans causes losses to medical facilities, conversion of Medicare plans to private plans will worsen the problem and cause rural facilities to close.

Jon Tester has supported rural health care and legislation to create incentives for new doctors to work and stay in rural areas. Health care is important to me. My vote goes to Jon Tester for U.S. Senate.

– Stephanie Brancati

Big Arm