LAS VEGAS (KSNV) \u2014 Boulder City Hospital, located southeast of Las Vegas, is transitioning to a new provider type, which is bringing layoffs.<\/p>\n
Hospital CEO Thomas Maher says the switch to a rural emergency hospital was the best option to keep the facility running for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n
Patients will still have access to a laboratory, radiology, rehabilitation, respiratory care, outpatient surgery, outpatient behavioral health programs, a primary care clinic, long-term care and skilled nursing services.<\/p>\n
The rural emergency hospital designation comes with financial incentives, such as a 5% bonus for Medicare payments for outpatient services starting May 1.<\/p>\n
However, the hospital will no longer accept inpatient acute admissions or geriatric behavioral health admissions. Eliminating those services led to multiple employees tied to those departments being cut.<\/p>\n
“The HR1 bill that was passed last year affected Medicaid reimbursement,” Maher said. “For us in particular, it cut the provider fee program, which we were relying on to stabilize our cash needs for the future. They cut that pretty much in half.”<\/p>\n