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
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
Hospital leaders explained how their institutional culture, policies, and workforce help them deliver high-quality and high-value care while still prioritizing equity. 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