Achieving Equity in Medicare DSH Payments to Rural Hospitals. An Assessment of the Financial Impact of Recent and Proposed Changes to the DSH Payment Formula: Final Report

This report, prepared by the Project HOPE Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, examines Medicare's Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) Program. It discusses the effects of recent and proposed changes to the DSH formulas intended to address inequity in payments to rural hospitals. The report presents findings of a study that calculated the likely financial impact of DSH formula changes on rural hospitals' financial performance. It includes tables, references, and appendices.