McLeansboro, IL – The Illinois Hospital Association (IHA) Board of Trustees voted unanimously to support the concept of Medicaid reimbursement based on costs for critical access hospitals in Illinois.   “As with all Medicaid requests, it will be a challenge to find additional funds for this proposal, but the Board felt it important to explore this opportunity on behalf of our critical access hospitals,” explained Lori Williams, IHA, Small and Rural Hospital Affairs, Vice President.

Randall W. Dauby, IHA board member and CEO of Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro, presented the proposal to the IHA Small and Rural Hospital Steering Committee on January 12, the IHA Policy Council on January 13, and the IHA Board of Trustees February 4, 2010.  “We appreciate Randy’s leadership role in bringing this issue forward,” stated Williams.  Hamilton Memorial Hospital District CEO, Dauby has been a member of the IHA Small and Rural Hospital group since 2000.

Dauby’s  proposal received approval from the IHA Board and now the IHA staff will begin conversations with legislators and the state administration on the most appropriate manner to achieve this reimbursement for critical access hospitals.  IHA will keep its constituents informed of its legislative agenda this spring and ask for their involvement in supporting this and other issues during this spring session.

Small and Rural Hospitals with Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation are currently reimbursed on a “cost basis” from Medicare.  Hospitals are fast becoming the insurer of last resort and picking up the cost of caring for the uninsured, underinsured and indigent.  While many hospitals offer charity care and billing plans, it has become increasingly more difficult to “fill the financial void” that below cost reimbursement creates.

“Presenting this concept to the IHA board was a great opportunity and honor for me, as I and many others have been working toward this goal for several years,” said Dauby.  “While the IHA board has approved this initiative, getting the state to approve this proposal, in light of the current financial difficulties, will be an even greater challenge,” he added.

Dauby has been an active participant in the Illinois Hospital Association since 2000.  He has received over 56 Associate Assignments in the past 10 years, including serving on several task force groups, and committees within the association.  Two assignments include the Medicaid Reimbursement Task force, 2007 and 2010. He acted as the Regional Secretary in 2003, IHA Regional President 2005, and has been an active  member of the IHA PAC Board of Directors in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010.

For information regarding this release please contact Deborah McKinney Huff at 643-2361 extension 2341 or dmckinney@hmhospital.org.

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