Introducing Hot Takes from Health Leaders: a biweekly series featuring candid responses from the policymakers, clinicians, hospital executives, researchers, and advocates who will convene at LOWN26: Confronting Healthcare Affordability on May 21st in Cambridge, MA. More
Understanding the problem is the first step. More
With the expiration of enhanced subsidies for ACA plans driving premiums up - and more cuts to public insurance plans on the horizon - how should policymakers respond? More
See the stories that just missed winning a Shkreli Award this year... More
An annual top ten list of the worst examples of profiteering and dysfunction in health care, named for the infamous "pharma bro" Martin Shkreli. More
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
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
Ahead of this year’s Shkreli’s on Thursday, December 11, we’re revisiting several past winners who reappeared in headlines this year—a Shkreli “class reunion” of sorts—to see what our most disreputable alums have been up to. More
Register now for the 2025 Shkreli Awards, hosted on December 11, 2025 at 1pm More
We called 86 hospitals and primary care offices to see how long it would take to get a new patient appointment. Here's what we found. More
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
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
These are the #1 hospitals in each state, according to the 2025 Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility. More
US News & World Report just released their list of “best hospitals” for 2025-26, which is based primarily on patient outcomes for complex specialty care and common procedures. The Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility takes a different approach to hospital ranking, evaluating hospitals on metrics of equity and value as well as outcomes. Here's how the 2025 US News best hospitals perform on the Lown Index. More
Findings from a statewide analysis of Missouri hospital policies More
A federal judge recently struck down a rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) seeking to remove medical debt from credit reports. How will this affect medical debt in the future? More
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
The data to support these criticisms has been cataloged and quantified by the Lown Institute, a nonpartisan think tank interested in “bold ideas for a just and caring system for health.” It’s abundantly clear that “nonprofit” is now a misnomer when referring to hospitals. The fair share deficit — the disparity between what a hospital provides its community and what it receives from the American taxpayer — reached an all-time high of $25.7 billion in 2024. Yet fully 80% of “no-profit” hospitals claimed to be “in the red. More
The Lown Institute has released its highly anticipated index of America's Most Socially Responsible Hospitals. This year's honor roll comes at a critical time, as hospitals work to maintain equitable care amid potential Medicaid cuts, rising costs and ongoing workforce challenges. Duke Regional Hospital topped this year's acute care ranking, marking its fifth year on the list. More
Lown, a nonpartisan healthcare think tank, annually evaluates hospitals nationwide on more than 50 metrics pertaining to equity, value and health outcomes. Out of more than 2,700 acute care hospitals nationwide, Lown recognized 125 “Honor Roll” hospitals for achieving the highest scores in its latest 2025-2026 rankings.