How does your state do on hospital social responsibility?
The Lown Institute just released the fourth version of the Lown Hospitals Index. Which states have the highest-performing hospitals on equity, value, and outcomes? More
PRESS RELEASE: Lown Institute Identifies Most Socially Responsible U.S. Hospitals
The Lown Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, has released its annual list of the most socially responsible hospitals in America. Of more than 3,600 hospitals evaluated, 54 made the honor roll by earning “A” grades across three main categories: equity, value, and outcomes. More
How hospitals can help solve our medical debt crisis
How can hospitals prevent and reduce medical debt in their communities? A new report from Los Angeles County reveals the extent of medical debt in the city and recommendations for reducing this burden for residents. More
PRESS RELEASE: Boston neurologist earns national award for health justice leadership
Altaf Saadi, MD, MSc to receive Bernard Lown Award for Social Responsibility and $25,000 prize More
This hospital system denied care to patients with medical debt. But they’re not the only ones…
A recent investigation found that Allina Health System has been rejecting patients with unpaid medical bills. Why is this allowed, and are other hospitals doing it? More
How are hospitals doing on greenhouse gas emissions?
What can we learn about hospital carbon emissions from the EPA's "Energy Star" program? More
Hospital Spotlight: Mount Sinai Hospital
Our latest spotlight features Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago, which was one of the top hospitals for Fair Share Spending in the nation in 2022. We spoke with Dr. Ngozi Ezike, President and CEO of Sinai Chicago, about Mount Sinai Hospital’s role in the community and their vision for the future. More
Policymakers look to curb facility fees in outpatient setting
Should Medicare pay more for the same service delivered in an outpatient facility when it's owned by a hospital? That's the key question behind the push for site-neutral payments, a policy change that federal and state policymakers are considering. More
Earlier screening for breast cancer: Benefits and harms
The USPSTF just lowered the recommended screening age for breast cancer from 50 to 40. What were the reasons for this change and what are the potential harms and benefits? More
What happens when safety net hospitals close?
Safety net hospitals across the US are closing at a disturbing rate. What's driving this trend, and what's the impact on communities? More
5 things you need to know about hospital community benefit spending
What is the hospital community benefit standard and why is it getting so much attention? If you want to get up to date fast on this key health policy issue, we've got you covered... More
Medical debt and community benefit spending: How states are taking action
A detailed recap of our Fair Share launch event, featuring health policymakers and experts from California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Oregon. More
What’s up with hospital finances?
How are hospital finances doing? The short answer is, it depends on the type of hospital... More
WATCH: Which hospitals are spending their fair share on communities?
Nonprofit hospitals receive substantial tax breaks worth tens of billions each year. But how many hospitals actually give back to communities as much as they receive in tax benefits? More
PRESS RELEASE: U.S. nonprofit hospitals receive billions more in tax breaks than they invest in their communities
A new report examining the finances of 1,763 nonprofit hospitals in the United States finds that more than three-quarters fall short on expected investments in their communities. More
Why are screening colonoscopy recommendations different across countries?
Lown Institute experts explore why routine colonoscopy is recommended in the US but not in other countries. More
Hospital Spotlight: Denver Health
The Lown Institute has launched a new blog series spotlighting socially responsible hospitals across the nation. For the inaugural piece, the spotlight is on Denver Health. More
Price caps, spending floors, and penalties, oh my! The latest in state hospital policy
Hospitals have recently come under the spotlight for high prices and inadequate community benefit spending-- and now state policymakers are taking action. Here's an update on what's going on in the state hospital policy space. More
New FDA guidelines on breast density notifications and implications for overuse
The FDA just updated guidelines to require mammography facilities to notify patients about their breast density. How will this impact overdiagnosis and overtreatment? More
“Eye-popping” executive salaries led these hospitals to lose their property tax benefits
A Pennsylvania appellate court recently denied property tax exemptions to four nonprofit hospitals because they were operating more like for-profits. Could other hospitals be next? More