Unpaid hospital bills mount as more uninsured seek care
Hospitalist Leadership Connection, January 24, 2007
The volume of unpaid bills is increasing at Minnesota hospitals as more uninsured patients seek inpatient care. The result is a drag on hospitals' bottom line that raises the cost of care for all patients, according to a January 17 article in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Star Tribune.
The Minnesota Health Department reported in mid-January that uncompensated care rose 26% from 2004 to 2005 to more than $191 million, the article states. Nearly $111 million of that was "bad debt" that hospitals could not collect, and the remainder was charity care provided to indigent patients.
The article cites one healthcare facility, Hennepin County Medical Center, which was forced to lay off staff members due to the spike in uncompensated care. The increase in uncompensated care was the result of a reduction in state-sponsored insurance programs four years ago.
To access the full article, click here.
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