Top hospitals for community benefit, 2025-26
See which hospitals ranked highest in community benefit on the Lown Index for 2025-26 More
These cost-efficient hospitals get great outcomes for less
Affordability is the topic on everyone’s mind. What can we learn from the most cost-efficient hospitals on the Lown Index? More
What’s driving the healthcare affordability crisis?
Understanding the problem is the first step. More
What these outstanding doctors did in 2025: A follow-up on our BLASR winners
With healthcare costs reaching a crisis level and trust in medicine eroding rapidly, it's more critical than ever that clinicians fearlessly advocate for the public good. Here's what the exceptional Bernard Lown Award winning physicians accomplished last year. More
PRESS RELEASE: 2025’s worst behavior in healthcare called out in think tank top ten list
The Shkreli Awards call attention to behaviors that undermine public trust, exploit patients, and erode the moral foundations of healthcare. More
“Ghost networks” abound in Medicare Advantage and Medicaid, research shows
The problem of “ghost” networks—when doctors are listed as being in-network for managed care plans, but turn out not to be available—is starting to get more attention. Here’s what you need to know from recent research and reporting on the topic. More
Hospital CEO pay in Massachusetts over four years: Whose pay increased the most?
How has CEO compensation for large hospital systems in Massachusetts changed over the past few years? We took a look at the latest data to find out. More
“We are up against an enormous financial juggernaut”: Experts discuss back surgery overuse at Lown event
Watch the video recording and see our key takeaways from the latest Lown Institute event on back surgery overuse. More
PRESS RELEASE: Older adults get unnecessary back surgeries at an alarming rate
Patients face serious risk of complications; billions in Medicare dollars wasted More
Conflicts of interest: physicians, pharma, and overuse
Several recent studies show that conflicts of interest are deeply entrenched in modern medicine and existing regulations are doing little to rein in the problem. More
Why private equity growth matters for veterans’ health
How is the growth of private equity acquisitions in healthcare impacting veterans? At a roundtable event hosted by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, researchers and policy experts discussed the drivers and consequences of these acquisitions going unchecked. Watch the event recording! More
Which hospital is the most socially responsible in your state?
These are the #1 hospitals in each state, according to the 2025 Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility. More
Overuse costs Medicare billions. Will WISeR be the fix we need?
Can we reduce healthcare waste while making Americans healthier? A new Medicare pilot program that uses AI is trying to do just that. Here’s what’s promising about the program, and which elements could use rethinking. More
When hospitals exclude elective care from financial assistance
Hospitals have a lot of leeway to decide who is eligible for financial assistance. In some cases, hospitals don't allow any elective care to be eligible. What impact could that have on health or medical debt? More
PRESS RELEASE: Top hospitals in America named by the Lown Institute
125 “socially responsible” hospitals earn Honor Roll status for outcomes, value, and equity BOSTON—More than 100 U.S. hospitals achieved top performance across measures of equity, value, and outcomes, according to the 2025 Lown Hospitals Index. Despite workforce shortages, rising costs, looming Medicaid cuts, and other challenges, Lown Institute analysts say this year’s Honor Roll demonstrates […] More
“Only a movement will get us to a better future.”: Dr. Reshma Ramachandran accepts the 2025 Bernard Lown Award
Dr. Reshma Ramachandran received the 2025 Bernard Lown Award for Social Responsibility for her exceptional work promoting equitable access to medicines, mobilizing physicians nationwide to challenge pharmaceutical industry influence, and advancing legislative reforms that prioritize the public’s health over corporate profit. More
PRESS RELEASE: Inconsistent Hospital Policies Put Patients at Greater Risk of Medical Debt
Analysis of 2,500 charity care policies finds patients with identical income and medical needs could receive free care at one hospital, yet face collections or lawsuits at another. More
PRESS RELEASE: Yale physician Reshma Ramachandran wins 2025 Bernard Lown Award for Social Responsibility
Reshma Ramachandran, MD, MPP, MHS, to receive the 2025 Bernard Lown Award for Social Responsibility and $25,000 prize. More
Hospitals benefit from billions in property tax exemptions
These 20 hospitals avoided nearly $1 billion in property taxes. More
How hospitals can invest in their communities: Four real-world examples
What types of initiatives are hospitals investing in to improve access to care and community health? We dug into the tax forms for some of the largest fair share surplus hospitals to find out. More