U.S. debt default could endanger provider payments

Hospitals and health systems are hoping for a resolution to the federal government’s debt ceiling standoff. A failure to reach an agreement could have a catastrophic impact on provider payments.

Republicans and Democrats continue to haggle over a deal to raise the $31.4 trillion national debt limit and keep the U.S. from defaulting on its agreements, potentially in early June.

It is unclear which programs the federal government would…