Chenango Memorial Hospital to keep federal funding

2/20/2013 (Updated 11:00:44 PM)

Norwich -- Good news for Chenango Memorial and other rural hospitals that depend on Medicare payments
   
Senator Charles Schumer was at Chenango Memorial in Norwich Wednesday to announce the extension of the Medicare-Dependent Hospital (MDH) and Low Volume Hospital (LVH) Programs.  The two programs help fund small rural hospitals with high rates of elderly patients.  Both programs were set to expire on September 30th but Schumer has helped secure the programs for at least another year.  Without the programs, Chenango Memorial could have lost $1.8 million in funding for 2013.

"It would have meant job loss, very important to one of the largest employers in [Chenango] County," said Schumer, (D-NY).  "It also would have meant less quality care and so, it would have affected every resident.  I made a promise to fight for funding that allows Chenango Memorial to thrive and allows all the dedicated people to continue doing the great work that I know you do.  So today, I'm thrilled to say, we did it."

There are 18 hospitals in New York that qualify for the LVH Program and seven for the MDH Program.