LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Boulder City Hospital shifted to a new rural emergency designation Friday, ending stays of more than 24 hours at the hospital and cutting staff.
The change comes amid changes to federal funding.
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Medicaid cuts drive transition
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto testified on Capitol Hill last week about the changes.
“Let me tell you the reality of my state with respect to the Medicaid cuts. Effective May 1st, Boulder City Hospital in my state will no longer be able to support inpatient stays longer than 24 hours and will transform into a rural emergency hospital rather than retain the current designation as a critical access hospital,” Cortez Masto said.
Boulder City Hospital has served the community since the town was founded to house workers building the Hoover Dam.
Cortez Masto said because of the “Big Beautiful Bill” and Medicaid cuts, more than 70 hospital employees are losing their jobs and hospital services are being cut.
“This is one of my rural communities. This is going to be devastating for so many, and this is the first that we’re seeing in my state,” she said.
Financial conditions drive restructuring
CEO Thomas Maher said the restructuring is driven by financial conditions facing the hospital as a small, independent facility.
“We don’t belong to a tax district, nor are we part of a larger corporation. So we sink or swim on the strength of our operations and the integrity of our reimbursement system. And for small rural hospitals like us that rely on Medicaid funding, it’s essential for financial survival,” Maher said.
Under the new designation, patient stays cannot exceed 24 hours, ending some surgical and psychiatric services. Maher said most patients will not be impacted.
The hospital was able to transfer 15 of the 71 employees who were initially laid off to open positions. The hospital said the changes are not about reducing care but being able to offer reliable emergency services now and into the future.
“Healthcare is a business and there’s economic factors that affect all businesses. And this is a consequence of a difficult economic environment,” Maher said.
The rural emergency hospital designation comes with financial incentives. Medicare payments for outpatient services will include a 5% bonus. It also provides a subsidy of about $3.5 million a year.
For questions about the hospital’s transition, the CEO said answers can be found on the hospital’s FAQ page on the transition at https://bchcares.org/rural-emergency-hospital/.
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