2024 Fair Share Spending: Top 10 Hospitals
These hospitals had the largest fair share surpluses in the nation. That means that their spending on meaningful community investments exceeded the value of their tax exemption. More
2024 Fair Share Spending: Top 10 Systems
These health systems had the largest fair share surpluses in the country, meaning their spending on community investments exceeded the value of their tax exemption. More
PRESS RELEASE: More than 1,900 nonprofit hospitals receive more in tax breaks than they give back to their community, totaling billions
Are nonprofit hospitals giving back as much as they take in tax break? More
Steward implosion provides cautionary tale on private equity in health care
Steward Health Care, a for-profit system formerly owned by a private equity firm, is selling nine hospitals in Massachusetts, after running out of money to run the hospitals. Here's what happened, and what the fallout might mean for Massachusetts communities. More
Growing OBGYN shortages are threatening maternal health; abortion bans may make them worse
In the face of the nation’s high rates of maternal mortality, OBGYN workforce shortages are exacerbating the problem. In some states, abortion bans could be making things worse. More
Labor and delivery units are closing across the country. Here are some of the names.
Hospitals across the country have been struggling to keep their maternity unit doors open. Is your local hospital on the list of maternity unit closures? More
Three things Black people should know about health care (Part 3)
Despite having access to world-class medical facilities nearby, often people with the most serious health concerns tend to bypass the “nicer” hospitals. Here’s why that happens, and why you might consider trying out these hospitals nonetheless. More
Remembering Joe Brain, a champion for public health
Lown Institute board members remember Joe Brain, innovative scientist, generous teacher, and devoted friend to Dr. Bernard Lown. More
No margin, no mission? How safety net hospitals balance financial and ethical concerns
For hospitals that operate on razor-thin margins, balancing financial concerns with their social mission is an incredibly difficult task. In NEJM, experts explain how hospitals manage these challenging tradeoffs. More
Three things Black people should know about healthcare (Part 2)
More than half of Black adults say they’ve had at least one negative interaction with doctors or other health care providers, with about a third saying that their pain was not taken seriously or that their provider has rushed them. Read tips on how to address culturally incompetent care. More
Three things Black people should know about healthcare (Part 1)
Black Americans are at a higher risk of medical debt and its consequences compared to other Americans. What can patients do to protect themselves? More
“Nudging” doctors to reduce overuse
How can we combat cognitive biases and reduce overuse? Recent studies provide insights for "nudging" doctors away from low-value care. More
Am I eligible? Why financial assistance policies vary drastically between states
Suppose you are an individual who makes $21,870 per year, or 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL), and have come to the hospital for treatment. Would you be eligible for financial assistance to help these expenses? It depends on where you live. More
A Tale of Two Hospitals in New York City
What does it mean for patients and clinicians to be confronted with healthcare inequalities daily? More
PRESS RELEASE: Biggest healthcare fails of 2023 named in 7th annual Shkreli Awards
A $35 million CEO salary, hospitals that hawk medical credit cards, and a physician placing 41 stents in a single patient are among this year’s winners. BOSTON, MA – The Lown Institute, a healthcare think tank, has released the seventh edition of its Shkreli Awards, given each year to perpetrators of the most egregious examples […] More
Five ways hospitals can be more socially responsible in 2024
Many of us adopt resolutions for the New Year—could hospitals do the same? Here are five ways that hospitals could become more socially responsible in the coming year, inspired by those hospitals that are already leading the way. More
The prevalence and harm of unnecessary stents
A new report from the Lown Institute finds that U.S. hospitals performed more than 229,000 unnecessary stents on Medicare patients from 2019-2021. Here's what overuse experts had to say about the issue... More
PRESS RELEASE: Unnecessary coronary stents cost Medicare as much as $800 million per year
How professional inertia harms patients and wastes billions of dollars. More
Six ways Congress could improve the hospital community benefit standard
What can policymakers do about this issue to protect patients from medical debt and ensure hospitals are giving back their fair share to communities? Here are some proposals that could move the needle... More
“We should all have an equity lens”: Insights from hospital equity officers
New research shows the challenges that hospital equity officers face, and opportunities for change. More