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HiPointDem

(20,729 posts)
39. in name only
Mon Feb 11, 2013, 05:59 AM
Feb 2013

Not-For-Profit Hospitals Make Billions—and Provide Little Charity Care

Not-for-profit hospitals, including some of the country’s biggest and best-known institutions, are almost entirely tax exempt, in part because of the expectation they will provide free or low-cost “charity care" to those in need. But a report released this week by a research arm of California Nurses Association / National Nurses United found that California not-for-profit hospitals are reaping huge tax benefits while providing minimal charity care.

Many people don’t realize that not-for-profit institutions can accumulate profits. They can; the profit cannot be disbursed to individual owners or stockholders but rather is supposed to be reinvested for the good of the community. With hospitals, that is generally assumed to include the provision of charity care to uninsured or low-income people. But while 11 states, including Texas and Alabama, mandate specific levels of charity care, California and the federal government do not.

As a result, not-for-profit tax breaks for well-known California hospitals–including Cedars Sinai, Kaiser Permanente and Stanford University--dwarf the level of charity care provided. Overall, the 196 hospitals surveyed received $3.3 billion in 2010 state and federal tax exemptions and spent only $1.4 billion on charity care--a gap of $1.8 billion. Three-quarters of the hospitals got more dollars in tax breaks than they spent on charity care. Half spent less than 2.46 percent of their operating expenses on charity care.

Idelson stressed that the debate shouldn’t be about the merits of for-profit versus not-for-profit health care systems, but rather public versus private ones. “If you look at the level of charity care and other community benefits and pricing practices, the difference between private not-for-profit and private for-profit hospitals is very small," she says. "But the difference between private and public systems is massive. The institutions that are really acting in a way people think hospitals should behave are the hard-pressed county and public hospital systems.”

http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/13698/california_hospitals_not_for_profit_but_not_for_the_poor/

They're grossly-for-profit and run by this clown: Cooley Hurd Feb 2013 #1
Yuck, not surprising to hear though. nt Locut0s Feb 2013 #3
He's a NW Subrban Chicago wingnut extrordinaire with an 86-point score on Muckety. Snarkoleptic Feb 2013 #22
Yikes, my worst suspicions confirmed. nt Union Scribe Feb 2013 #25
I don't trust them either. nt babylonsister Feb 2013 #2
Yeah. I just find it sickening because... Locut0s Feb 2013 #5
It is also prayer-centered treatment. A neighbor's mother bought into it ScreamingMeemie Feb 2013 #6
My uncle died of pancreatic cancer; I know how babylonsister Feb 2013 #9
So did my brother, 2011. FOUR months from turning 65 and retiring. DainBramaged Feb 2013 #12
I'm so sorry. LiberalLoner Feb 2013 #18
aw Dain Skittles Feb 2013 #37
..... DainBramaged Feb 2013 #45
Not with my life. True story DainBramaged Feb 2013 #10
I'm sorry to hear of that story, but good on him, sounds like he's a courageous and... Locut0s Feb 2013 #13
Plus, they pitch "alternative" "cures" in their ads. longship Feb 2013 #4
Yeah exactly I think the same exact thing when I watch their ads... Locut0s Feb 2013 #7
I've been feeling that way tosh Feb 2013 #8
There are apparently lots of questions about their treatment union_maid Feb 2013 #11
They take people who are going to die regardless of treatment, and add huge debt to their woes. nt SunSeeker Feb 2013 #14
Someone posted here awhile back, that these pos bastards were harassing an old woman for money owed. Mnemosyne Feb 2013 #15
"Ghouls" comes quickly to mind. Stinky The Clown Feb 2013 #16
Excellent word choice. Fits perfectly. nt Union Scribe Feb 2013 #26
I think we need to see their results. Kalidurga Feb 2013 #17
Sorry wish I could be more specific but I remember reading somewhere Marie Marie Feb 2013 #19
Aren't most hospitals for profit? nt Honeycombe8 Feb 2013 #27
No Revanchist Feb 2013 #32
in name only HiPointDem Feb 2013 #39
I'm in Dallas. I believe most of the hospitals here are for profit. Honeycombe8 Feb 2013 #49
to my mind, "advertisements" and "truth" have nothing to do with each other. n/t NRaleighLiberal Feb 2013 #20
There may be some degree of care. LiberalAndProud Feb 2013 #21
My mother's cousin had a very similar story . . . markpkessinger Feb 2013 #41
i checked out the website madrchsod Feb 2013 #23
When I see that much ad airtime I know their pricing is obscene. aquart Feb 2013 #24
From the wiki entry Shivering Jemmy Feb 2013 #28
They were sued by the Federal Trade Commission for false claims octoberlib Feb 2013 #29
The best, most successful treatment I have seen was received at a state medical center associated patrice Feb 2013 #30
Their ads fall just short of promising miracle cures to hopeless cases. 6000eliot Feb 2013 #31
No insurance, no money, no treatment The Flaming Red Head Feb 2013 #33
Worst of the worst piece of shit, bottom-feeding thieves preying on the most desperate, and insured, Egalitarian Thug Feb 2013 #34
My best friend had cancer Smilo Feb 2013 #35
My brother in law has lung cancer and went to MAYOs erinlough Feb 2013 #36
but they're on TV they must be good pstokely Feb 2013 #38
Yes and what makes it worse is that the owner is malaise Feb 2013 #40
How many doctors use them? safeinOhio Feb 2013 #42
Thanks for this link felix_numinous Feb 2013 #48
YES!!!!! Seems like a racket n/t K8-EEE Feb 2013 #43
The ads disturb me because they are hype. no_hypocrisy Feb 2013 #44
BC of my DVR Dorian Gray Feb 2013 #46
I have MAJOR questions about those people! They make it sound like.... OldDem2012 Feb 2013 #47
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