A hospital near Johnstown says they are no longer delivering babies.
The Affordable Care Act is one of the many factors they are attributing the decision to.
CBS 21 has more on what this means for decisions from your healthcare providers in the future.
A problem with the Affordable Healthcare Act is the fact that much of it has yet to be spelled out into black and white and how to implement it.
That leaves doctor’s healthcare providers and insurance companies guessing financially as to what's going to happen in the future.
“Healthcare is expensive, the cost of healthcare continues to go up,” explained David Vassilaros. “T he Healthcare Reform Act doesn't really address the cost of healthcare.”
David Vassilaros, Director of Healthcare Reform and Regulatory Affairs with Capital Blue Cross says health care providers nationwide are all trying to plan for the future. Which means in some cases making tough decisions.
Near Johnstown, just outside Pittsburgh, Windber Medical Center has chosen to stop delivering babies.
While the main reason is that all four of the Ob-gyn doctors are leaving the obstetrics division, the hospital admits that not replacing them is in part of a financial decision.
In a statement on their website they said, "In today's challenging healthcare environment the board of directors and executive leadership at Windber Medical Center continue to carefully evaluate the current state against reimbursement and industry trends."
Vassilaros says those decisions are being made across the country.
“We are all trying to figure out what's coming, we are all looking down the road making plans
and we are all trying to see what's going to change,” Vassilaros told us.
He says it's important to note that it's not just the Affordable Healthcare Act. Legislation around the fiscal cliff and other decisions are impacting costs.
“Particularly, you have these budget discussions in Washington, ongoing big issue and big impact on healthcare,” Vassilaros concluded.
So what can you do as a healthcare consumer? You can start asking questions and research. Start talking to your doctor, your hospitals and healthcare providers and insurance companies. And find out what they plan to do in the future.
The Affordable Care Act is one of the many factors they are attributing the decision to.
CBS 21 has more on what this means for decisions from your healthcare providers in the future.
A problem with the Affordable Healthcare Act is the fact that much of it has yet to be spelled out into black and white and how to implement it.
That leaves doctor’s healthcare providers and insurance companies guessing financially as to what's going to happen in the future.
“Healthcare is expensive, the cost of healthcare continues to go up,” explained David Vassilaros. “T he Healthcare Reform Act doesn't really address the cost of healthcare.”
David Vassilaros, Director of Healthcare Reform and Regulatory Affairs with Capital Blue Cross says health care providers nationwide are all trying to plan for the future. Which means in some cases making tough decisions.
Near Johnstown, just outside Pittsburgh, Windber Medical Center has chosen to stop delivering babies.
While the main reason is that all four of the Ob-gyn doctors are leaving the obstetrics division, the hospital admits that not replacing them is in part of a financial decision.
In a statement on their website they said, "In today's challenging healthcare environment the board of directors and executive leadership at Windber Medical Center continue to carefully evaluate the current state against reimbursement and industry trends."
Vassilaros says those decisions are being made across the country.
“We are all trying to figure out what's coming, we are all looking down the road making plans
and we are all trying to see what's going to change,” Vassilaros told us.
He says it's important to note that it's not just the Affordable Healthcare Act. Legislation around the fiscal cliff and other decisions are impacting costs.
“Particularly, you have these budget discussions in Washington, ongoing big issue and big impact on healthcare,” Vassilaros concluded.
So what can you do as a healthcare consumer? You can start asking questions and research. Start talking to your doctor, your hospitals and healthcare providers and insurance companies. And find out what they plan to do in the future.