Financial assistance policies: The good, the bad, and the bizarre
A recent study of hospital financial assistance policies shows how some policies became more generous after Covid-19, some became more restrictive, and some just got weird... More
The downward spiral of medical debt
Medical debt has become a crisis in the United States, with half of US adults reporting medical debt over the past five years. A new study shows the risk factors for medical debt in America and the impact of debt on families. More
Private Equity and Healthcare, Part 1: Rural Hospitals
It's no secret that rural hospitals are struggling financially. Would private equity help turn the tides, or would it jeopardize quality patient care? More
How hospitals are taking action (or not) to address the climate crisis
The American healthcare industry accounts for an estimated 8% of all carbon emissions in the nation. How can we encourage hospitals to take action on the climate crisis? More
Why antitrust laws aren’t stopping some hospital mergers
One job of the FTC is to prevent mergers that create hospital monopolies, but a type of state law has allowed hospitals to sidestep federal regulation and avoid competition. More
Hospitals serving more Black patients are at a financial disadvantage, study finds
The most inclusive hospitals for Black Medicare patients get nearly $500 less in patients revenue per day than other hospitals, making it more difficult for these hospitals to improve quality and putting them at risk of closure. More
Even at elite hospitals, the prices make no sense
Among America's most prestigious hospitals, prices for common tests and services vary considerably, a new study finds. More
What should count as a community benefit for nonprofit hospitals?
How much are nonprofit hospitals giving back to communities? It depends on what you count, Lown Institute leaders explain in a new op-ed. More
Hospital price transparency still lags a year after new rule
A recent study finds that many months after hospitals were required to post their prices, only 6% of hospitals are adhering to all of the requirements. More
INTERVIEW: Holding hospitals accountable to communities
How can we ensure that nonprofit hospitals are paying their fair share? What policy avenues or partnerships have worked in the past? More
Patients from poorer counties get worse hospital care, report finds
A recent report finds that hospitals with higher scores on the Lown Hospitals Index equity metrics also perform worse on certain preventable outcomes and patient safety metrics. More
How we could change the community benefit standard for the better
Hospitals taken in billions more than they spend on communities. How could we change the nonprofit hospital community benefit standard to improve accountability? More
VIDEO: Are nonprofit hospitals earning their tax breaks?
Are nonprofit hospital earning their tax breaks? Watch the video from our recent fair share spending launch to learn more. More
The best hospitals…in the world?
What goes into measuring the "world's best hospitals"? More
Are nonprofit hospitals serving their fair share of Medicaid patients?
Do nonprofit hospitals have higher unreimbursed Medicaid costs than for-profit hospitals? More
Why hospital price transparency is not enough
The 2021 hospital price transparency rule may not end the price confusion for patients, but it's still a valuable change-- here's why... More
Which hospitals got the most CARES Act Funding?
Which hospitals got the largest slice of the federal relief pie? Two recent studies examine the impact of this massive funding influx on hospital finances. More
America’s “best” hospitals charge high drug price markups
A recent study examines insurer-negotiated prices for ten expensive drugs at the 20 top US News & World Report hospitals. More
Measuring low-value care throughout the health system
The Lown Hospitals Index evaluates more than 3,000 hospitals on 12 low-value services. Researchers at the Harvard Medical School and Dartmouth Institute have released a new tool, expanding the measurement of 41 low-value services across hospital and non-hospital settings. More
How to stop hospitals suing patients
When researchers, media, and advocates teamed up to bring attention to hospital lawsuits, it led to a dramatic decrease in lawsuits filed. What can we learn from this initiative? More