on Friday announced that the hospital is now able to admit and treat Medicare patients with the receipt of a provider number.
The number, received from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, means that the hospital can now be used by those covered by Medicare.
“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this news,” said CEO Mel Sauder, in a statement released Friday.
“We are looking forward to being able to schedule more elective procedures and finalize more of our private payor contracts,” He said.
Hospital officials recently signed two contracts with Healthnet and Cigna, according to a public information officer for the medical center.
“The Medicare provider number is a key part in our ability to finalize our contracts and fully open our doors to meeting the community’s healthcare needs,” Sauder said.
According to information officer Kathryn Stiles, the hospital since opening in April has treated more than 6,000 patients and delivered nearly 100 babies.
All admissions to the facility have taken place through the emergency department and have required case by case evaluation by the insurance provider and the hospital.
Getting the provider number, said Stiles, "is a significant step in giving broader access to the services available at the hospital."
