Community Health Needs Assessments: What you should know
When it comes to hospitals giving back to their communities, it doesn’t only matter how much hospitals spend, but how they spend it. More
Meet Filipa, Lown’s public health intern
Meet Filipa Carvalho, Lown's latest public health intern! More
Meet Manas, Lown’s public health intern
Manasvini Ranganathan, Masters of Public Health student at Dartmouth and intern at the Lown Institute, shares her journey into public health. More
“Hefty” CEO pay at children’s hospital raises questions
This children's hospital paid their CEO more than they spent on financial assistance. What explains this upward trend in executive pay? More
PRESS RELEASE: Colorado physician Lilia Cervantes wins national award for social responsibility
Lilia Cervantes, MD, to receive Bernard Lown Award for Social Responsibility and $25,000 prize More
2024 Fair Share Spending: Top Hospital in Each State
These hospitals had the largest fair share surpluses in their state. That means that their spending on meaningful community investments exceeded the value of their tax exemption. More
Medical debt is a crisis. Is debt forgiveness the answer?
As medical debt grows more prevalent and harmful, state and local governments are taking action to forgive debt in their region. How can we expand these one-off actions into policy change to prevent debt before it starts? More
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