They’re called “safety net hospitals,” and they say their futures are in danger unless the state takes action soon.
Those institutions around the state largely serve poor and minority populations, most of them on Medicaid. And their funding depends on a state hospital assessment program that generates federal matching dollars to support those hospitals.
But that program expires this summer and now state officials are discussing changes to the program that could reduce funding to the safety nets.
Lincoln Prairie Behavioral Health Center in Springfield is one of the safety net hospitals that are calling for action on a fair assessment funding formula.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock