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Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania
Medicare Wage Index Media Relations Strategy



With health care reform a top national priority, the Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania (HCWP) had an opportunity to raise awareness of and affect legislation regarding one of the top issues facing the more than 60 health systems it represents -– the significant financial effects the Medicare Wage Index (MWI) has had on Western Pennsylvania hospitals.

Through a targeted media outreach strategy, WordWrite Communications and HCWP earned news coverage in multiple Western Pennsylvania markets. The media placements told the story of how regional hospitals have lost out on more than $300 million in Medicare reimbursement because of a flawed method for determining those payments and calling for a fix of the system through language included in a health care reform package. The placements also helped HCWP demonstrate to key legislators the effect MWI is having on their constituents.

Samples of the coverage included The Tribune-Democrat, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Altoona Mirror, and Butler Eagle.

• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 9, 2009, "Medicare index costly to hospitals in region"
  
  
• Altoona Mirror, November 22, 2009, "Hospitals fight for Medicare money"
  
  
• The Tribune-Democrat, November 14, 2009, "Hospitals seeking Medicare increase"
  

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