Hillsdale hospital presses for change in classification

9/10/2001

HILLSDALE - Armed with 6,440 signatures of support, Hillsdale Community Health Center officials will head to Washington Wednesday to push for a change in the hospital's classification.

Hospital officials said the medical facility is attempting to have its Medicare reimbursement classification changed from rural to urban, a move that could lead to higher reimbursements.

The health center is losing between $1 million and $1.5 million a year because hospitals under Medicare's urban designation are paid more than rural hospitals receive for the same services, officials said.

The community began a drive to collect signatures of support to help petition U.S. lawmakers.