Nebraska hospitals facing increasing cost pressures

November 21, 2022

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Faith Regional Medical Center spent about $2.5 million to $3 million annually on contract labor for traveling nurses and other personnel working short-term stints. This year, that cost is likely to hit $11.5 million, said Janna Cline, chief financial officer for the Norfolk hospital. That's on top of a 9.5% increase in salaries for regular staff members since January 2021, Cline said, as well as a 5% increase in utilities costs and various other cost increases.

"Hospitals in Nebraska are facing historic cost pressures," said Jeremy Nordquist, president of the Nebraska Hospital Association. Nordquist said that from 2019 to 2021, costs for hospitals increased more than 20% nationally. Read more

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