TGH Will Raise Patient Stay Rates

In-patient charges at Tuolumne General Hospital are going up.

The Tuolumne County Supervisors unanimously approved a substantial rate increase for medical, surgical and intensive care daily charges at the county-run facility.

Current hospital administration brought the propose increases to the Supervisors this morning. Supervisor Dick Pland was first to verbal comment, saying, “It´s about time.”

The increase in daily hospital stay fees will bring the financial-strapped health care facility up to nearly level with comparable facilities rates in the state.

Both hospital administration and supervisors are optimistic this is a step in the right direction to pull the hospital out of it financial troubles.

TGH chief financial officer Kent Johnson told the supervisors there was a nominal rate increase last year, but rates were still too low, putting the hospital´s rates more than 40 percent below the state average for facilities similar to TGH.

A survey by TGH staff found average daily charge for acute care is $1,220 and $2,683 for intensive care. The current TGH rates were $651 for acute and $1,523 for intensive care. The just approved new rates will nearly equal the state averages.

During the public hearing, no one spoke in opposition to the rate increases.

Hospital Administrator Barry Woerman says the rate increases are effective immediately.