In rural towns across the U.S. hospitals are in crisis. Since 2010, 121 rural hospitals have closed. And, the National Rural Health Association says more than one-third of all rural hospitals in the U.S. are at serious risk of shutting down. But not all hospitals are losing money. A series of mergers and acquisitions that began in the 1990’s has created massive hospital groups. Many of these hospital consortiums are turning huge profits every year by offering high priced services to well insured patients. (CNBC, YouTube, 6 Feb 2020 at ~ 11:30 PM CT)
Quote: “Hospitals have been increasingly seeking the better paying patients. They want people who can pay on their own. They want people who have good insurance coverage, and they want people who are going to be treated for profitable conditions.” – Robert Field, Professor, Health Management and Policy, Drexel University