AT SIX AND NEBRASKA HOSPITALS SAY THEY’RE FACING A FINANCIAL CRISIS AND WARN IT JEOPARDIZES YOUR HEALTH CARE SERVICES. THANKS FOR JOINING US. I’M ROB MCCARTNEY. I’M JULIE CORNELL THE STATE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION RELEASED NEW NUMBERS TODAY ON WHAT IT CALLS UNSOURCED ATTAINABLE CONDITIONS FOR MANY HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS. KETV NEWSWATCH 7 IS JOEY SAFCHIK BRINGS US THAT DATA. WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUR FAMILY. SHE JOINS US LIVE IN THE NEWSROOM. YEAH, ROB. JULIE, THE NEBRASKA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN VOCAL ABOUT HOW HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS IN THE STATE HAVE HAD TO TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS. AND NOW THE ASSOCIATION IS FAIRLY CERTAIN IT’S GOING TO TAKE QUITE SOME TIME BEFORE HOSPITALS WILL BE ABLE TO LOOSEN THEM EVEN A NOTCH. A GRIM OUTLOOK FOR NEBRASKA HOSPITALS NOT EXPECTED TO MAKE AN ECONOMIC COMEBACK IN 2023. GREAT PLAINS HEALTH HAS EXPERIENCED THE WORST COST INFLATION I’VE SEEN AS A HEALTH CARE FINANCE LEADER, UP 21% SINCE 2020. THAT’S IN LINE WITH HOSPITAL STATEWIDE OVERALL OPERATING COSTS ARE UP MORE THAN A FIFTH BETWEEN 2020 AND 2022. 2022 DID NOT END ON A HIGH NOTE AT THE END OF THE YEAR. OVER 55% OF OUR HOSPITALS WERE OPERATING IN THE RED. THE NEBRASKA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION BREAKS DOWN. THE NUMBERS SUPPLY COSTS ARE UP MORE THAN 25%, AND DRUG PRICES ARE UP MORE THAN 42%. ALL OF THOSE HAVE DRAMATICALLY OUTPACED THE REIMBURSEMENT RATES THAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. AND WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE AT NEBRASKA, MEDICINE CALLS A MOST IMPORTANT THE NEARLY 27% INCREASE IN WORKFORCE COSTS. RIGHT NOW, NEBRASKA MEDICINE’S FOCUSED ON EMPLOYEE RETENTION AND STABILIZED. BUT CHANGE WON’T COME QUICKLY. DESPITE EFFORTS TO BRING RELIEF IN THE LEGISLATURE. I DON’T THINK YOU’RE GOING TO RIGHT THE COURSE THIS YEAR. I THINK A LOT OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE BEING EVALUATED ARE THOSE ARE GOING TO TAKE MONTHS, IF NOT A FEW YEARS. AND WHILE HOSPITALS FOOT THE BILL, PATIENTS MAY FEEL THE PAIN. IN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS, THE DEPRESSED FINANCIAL RESULTS. WE’VE BEEN FACED WITH A BUNCH OF DIFFICULT DECISIONS. OPERATIONALLY, YOU BECOME VERY HESITANT TO OPEN NEW SERVICES BECAUSE YOU’RE JUST KIND OF PULLING IN YOUR LENS TO FIND OUT HOW DO I MAKE SURE THAT I CAN KEEP PROVIDING MY CORE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY? FOR NAHB PROVIDES A SAMPLE OF SOME OF THOSE MEDICAL SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN CUT DOWN OR ELIMINATED ENTIRELY. THEY INCLUDE REDUCED HOSPICE CARE, CLOTHES, NURSING HOMES AND CLOSED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH UNITS. BACK TO YOU. JULIE, THANKS. NOW, NEBRASKA HOSPITALS DID ASK FOR AN ALMOST 10% BUDGET INCREASE TO KEEP UP WITH THEIR COSTS. BUT THE NATURE, SAYS GOVERNOR JIM PILLEN BUDGET PLAN DID NOT PRIORITIZE MEDICARE AND MEDICAID RATES. MULTIPLE HOSPITAL GROUPS SAID THEY FELT THE BUDGET IGNORED THE CRISIS. PRODUCERS ARE FACING AT THE TIME, THE GOVERNOR TOLD US HE WAS NOT AN ADVOCATE, THA