From
WSJ:
In 2006, nearly 5,000 community hospitals provided uncompensated care costing $31.2 billion, the vast majority of it charity care or unpaid patient bills, according to the American Hospital Association.
Hospitals say that they want access to credit reports to focus collection efforts on those who can afford to pay. But is there another motive at work?
Consumer advocates say the practice creates the potential for hospitals to misuse the information by denying or cutting back on patients' care if they can't pay. Hospitals say that doesn't happen.
Who says they provided $31 billion of charity care? Are the hospitals using their (highly inflated) retail charges to value charity care, or do they value this care at Medicare or Medicaid costs? Maybe hospitals should provide a ratio, charity care/total care, making sure to use the same set of charges.
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