A Curious Union: Clorox, Cleveland Clinic, and the CDC Foundation
Disinfecting surfaces does little to curb Covid's spread. So why are two big health nonprofits working with Clorox? More
Blog
Fulfilling the Mandate of the US Food and Drug Administration’s Accelerated Approval Pathway
This Viewpoint discusses the US Food and Drug Administration’s accelerated approval pathway and proposes the need for reforms as well as the timely completion of postapproval trials. More
Legacy of racial segregation endures at many U.S. hospitals
In the early 1940s, Bernard Lown, MD, was temporarily expelled from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine after it was discovered that, in an act of protest, he had purposely altered blood-bottle labels that indicated the race of the blood donor from whom it was drawn. After a threatened protest, Dr. Lown—the inventor of the defibrillator—was reinstated but removed from his job at the blood bank, which continued to segregate its supply according to the race of the donor. Some 80 years after Dr. Lown’s encounter with that baseless form of medical racism, the organization that bears his name—the Lown Institute—has released data showing that many of the nation’s urban hospital markets are highly segregated. More
Local hospitals’ community-benefits spending falls millions short of their tax benefits, report finds
"There's been an assumption that these hospitals that don't pay taxes are spared the taxes because they provide a community benefit," said Dr. Vikas Saini, president of the Lown Institute.
The institute's analysis shows that is not necessarily the case, Saini said. Nearly three-quarters of private nonprofit hospitals nationwide spent less on community benefits than they received in tax breaks. That translated into a total deficit of $17 billion.
The rate was even higher in New York City, where 33 of 40 private hospitals spent less than they got in tax breaks, the institute's analysis found.
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Toward Gender Equity in Academic Promotions
This Viewpoint outlines policy changes to make academic promotions more equitable for women physicians. More
Most unvaccinated people have low incomes
Most low-income workers still want the shot, though. More
VIDEO: Community Benefit launch
The value of the nonprofit tax exemption is worth tens of billions to hospitals. But what are we getting back in exchange for this hefty tax break? Watch the launch video for a discussion of community benefit standards, hospital billing practices, and fair share spending with health policy experts. More
Big-name hospitals have biggest community spending shortfalls, report shows
PRESS RELEASE: Most U.S. nonprofit hospitals neglect community investment obligation, analysis reveals
Though all nonprofit hospitals enjoy big tax breaks, many fail to make commensurate investments in community health, according to a new analysis from the Lown Institute. The Institute today released Community Benefit findings from its 2021 Hospitals Index, that show nonprofit hospitals collectively failed to invest nearly $17 billion in their communities. More
US News to add Lown Index overuse metric to Best Hospitals ranking
This year, US News & World Report will be incorporating the Spinal Fusion Overuse metric from the Lown Index into their “Best Hospitals” ranking. More
Some of the nation’s biggest hospitals overcharge and sue their patients
Which US hospitals are conducting predatory billing practices like suing or overcharging patients? A new analysis using Lown Institute data grades hospitals on their billing practices. More
Characterization of US Hospital Advertising and Association With Hospital Performance, 2008-2016
This cross-sectional study uses data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to assess whether higher-performing hospitals are more likely to advertise their services directly to consumers. More
Hospitals Have Started Posting Their Prices Online. Here’s What They Reveal
Since January, hospitals were supposed to be disclosing true prices for their services, as a way to empower patients to shop around. Turns out, compliance is spotty and the data can be hard to find. More
Biden admin releases first rule banning surprise medical bills
The Biden administration released the first part of regulations to implement a law that bans surprise medical bills, outlining what types of charges will be outlawed starting in 2022. More
The Hidden Hand: Big Pharma’s Influence on Patient Advocacy Groups
Although most well-known patient organizations have important missions and provide invaluable services to patients, many appear unable or unwilling to take positions on consumer issues such as lowering prescription drug prices that might anger their drug corporation funders.
Health insurers are threatening not to cover some patients’ ER bills
Plans like United Healthcare say it’s necessary to contain health care costs. Experts say it’s the wrong approach. More
N.J. hospitals can now build housing for those experiencing homelessness, connecting need to services
The idea is that permanent, stable housing is a key to good health More
Transgender Patients Deserve Better Medical Care
We must train providers to understand their unique needs in order to deliver affirming, compassionate treatment More
Damage to Children’s Education — And Their Health — Could Last a Lifetime
Black and Hispanic students have lost up to 12 months of learning, which could lead to lower incomes and shorter, sicker lives. More
By Now, Burnout Is a Given
The pandemic has stripped our emotional reserves even further, laying bare our unique physical, social, and emotional vulnerabilities. More