The Effects of Medicare Advantage on Rural Hospitals With St. Bernards Healthcare

Half of all Medicare beneficiaries get their benefits through Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, which are offered by private companies and in theory should provide the same level of coverage of traditional Medicare. However, some MA plans have made the process of getting a claim covered a nightmare for patients, hospitals and health systems. In this conversation, Chris Barber, president and CEO of St. Bernards Healthcare, discusses the overwhelming problems certain MA plan practices can create for patients and their caregivers, especially for rural hospitals and health systems who face a unique set of challenges in caring for their communities.