According to a report by the Centers for Medicare Services, 14 Mississippi hospitals are seeing a reduction in federal payments due to high patient injuries. The federal government penalizes 769 hospitals nationwide by deducting Medicare payments by 1% for a whole year. These penalties have been imposed by Medicare for the third time. Only nine Mississippi hospitals were on the list last year. The number of hospitals that made the list for fiscal year 2015 was 12. Richard Roberson, vice president of the Mississippi Hospital Association called the increase a blip. He said that his group has been working with hospitals throughout the state to make improvements. Roberson stated that he believes the quality of Mississippi’s care is improving and that hospitals are committed in making improvements. From smaller, regional hospitals like Rolling Fork Sharkey Issaquena Community Hospital in Rolling Fork to the sprawling University of Mississippi Medicine Center in Jackson, Mississippi’s Mississippi hospitals are all on the list. However, Dr. Michael Henderson, UMMC chief medical officer, stated that the hospital’s large size makes it vulnerable to being added to the list. In 2015, the Medical Center was also punished. “This is a list that shows which hospitals are taking care of the most sickest patients in the country. Henderson stated that the risk adjustment doesn’t adequately account for this. “Notice how many educational medical centers, some the best hospitals in America, are on this list.” UMMC, the only teaching hospital in the state, is also listed. Only 120 hospitals on the national roster are affiliated with medical schools. Patient injury can be defined as a wide range of conditions, including hospital-acquired infections, broken hips, and bed sores. Some hospitals are exempted from these penalties. These hospitals include specialized hospitals that provide treatment for psychiatric patients, veterans, and children. A total of 30 Mississippi hospitals have been given the “critical access” status. The Affordable Care Act mandates that Medicare pay less to the 25% of hospitals that are performing poorly on these measures. Roberson agreed that Henderson’s statement was true. Medicare uses one-size-fits-all standards for different types of facilities. Just looking at this list you can see that there are large facilities that will be the primary acute care in their area. They’ll also get more vulnerable patients like Baptist Desoto. Roberson stated that the hospital is a large one and receives the most sick patients. Baptist Desoto, Southaven is one the three Mississippi hospitals that saw their payments reduced in all three years Medicaid has issued penalties to patients for injuries. Jasper General in Bay Springs, and South Central Regional Medical Center (Laurel) are the other two. The list also includes Anderson Regional Medical Center South, Meridian, Delta Regional Medical Center, Greenville, Marion General, Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi Methodist Rehab, Patients’ Choice Medical Center, Raleigh, Rush Foundation Hospital, Meridian, Sharkey Issaquena Community Hospital, Rolling Fork and South Sunflower County Hospital, Indianola, Whitfield Medical Surgical Hospital, Whitfield.