, the legislature is considering a similar bill banning some facility fees, and a proposal that would go even further by penalizing nonprofit hospitals if their prices for commercial insurance plans exceed 260% of what Medicare would pay.put off some type of medical care because of concerns about cost
Denver Health also reported a particularly difficult year, with a $39.9 million operating loss in the first nine months of 2022, meaning it spent more on patient care than it received in payments for that care. With investment losses, the drop came to about $73.8 million. Dan Weaver, spokesman for UCHealth, estimated that compensation costs were up 21% in four years, while Medicare reimbursements rose only 9% and Medicaid payments went up about 4.5%.
Rennell said the hospital association focuses on operating income — the revenue from taking care of patients — because investments can be volatile.The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing defended including the investment numbers in its calculations. Rennell said investment income and reserves will let hospitals to add capacity and workers at some point, while allowing them to get better interest rates when they need to borrow money now. He doesn’t see those goals as being in tension with controlling care costs.
“The major goal of these organizations is to continue growing,” he said. “But somebody has to pay the bills.”
Why in the rocky mountain fuck should hospitals turn a profit? Healthcare must be a legal right for every American, and profit shouldn't enter into the equation. Medicare for all is the only civilized solution to this barbarity.
No sympathy.