Hospitals across the nation are reporting increases in uncompensated, or "charity" care, and some are implementing budget cuts to curb the debt.
Kansas hospitals are reporting sharp increases in uncompensated care, and some hospital executives say the profile of the typical charity care patient has changed due to the downturn of the economy, according to a Kansas Health Institute report.
A 20 percent increase in private pay services at Thomas Hospital, in Fairhope, Ala., resulted in the cuts of 17 full-time employees and three part-time positions, according to a Press-Register report.
Erlanger Health System, one of two non-profit health systems in Chattanooga, Tenn., provided $22.4 million in charity care in 2009, according to a Times Free Press report. Combined with losses from treating patients on TennCare, the state's expanded Medicaid program, and bad debt, Erlanger absorbed $74 million in uncompensated care.
Northern Michigan Regional Health System reported a 162 percent increase in uncompensated care from 2005-2010, according to a Harbor Light report. The system cut health services and 65 positions to curb debt.
Hamot Health Foundation, the operating organization for Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Penn., provided $34 million in uncompensated care in fiscal year 2009-2010 — $4 million more than the previous year and three times the amount provided in 2003, according to an Erie Times-News report.
Kansas hospitals are reporting sharp increases in uncompensated care, and some hospital executives say the profile of the typical charity care patient has changed due to the downturn of the economy, according to a Kansas Health Institute report.
A 20 percent increase in private pay services at Thomas Hospital, in Fairhope, Ala., resulted in the cuts of 17 full-time employees and three part-time positions, according to a Press-Register report.
Erlanger Health System, one of two non-profit health systems in Chattanooga, Tenn., provided $22.4 million in charity care in 2009, according to a Times Free Press report. Combined with losses from treating patients on TennCare, the state's expanded Medicaid program, and bad debt, Erlanger absorbed $74 million in uncompensated care.
Northern Michigan Regional Health System reported a 162 percent increase in uncompensated care from 2005-2010, according to a Harbor Light report. The system cut health services and 65 positions to curb debt.
Hamot Health Foundation, the operating organization for Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Penn., provided $34 million in uncompensated care in fiscal year 2009-2010 — $4 million more than the previous year and three times the amount provided in 2003, according to an Erie Times-News report.