VIDEO: Elective surgeries Q&A
What are elective surgeries and why are they so important to hospitals? Vikas Saini and Shannon Brownlee answer questions about elective surgeries in this edition of our new video series, "Lown Hospitals Q&A." More
VIDEO: Hospital bailouts Q&A
In the first edition of "Lown Hospitals Q&A," a recurring video series, Vikas Saini and Shannon Brownlee answer questions about hospital bailouts. More
Richer hospitals aren’t pulling their weight in charity care, study finds
Are rich hospitals spending as much as they should on charity care? A new analysis suggests they could be doing much more. More
Should hospitals be judged by their billing practices?
Affordability is one of the most important considerations for hospital patients. So why isn't billing taken into account in hospital evaluations? More
International hospital expansions: A health or profit imperative?
Are hospitals expanding to the United Arab Emirates as part of their humanitarian mission? Or are they "looking for mission where the money is"? More
News story or advertisement? Advertorials obscure hospital sponsor
A new series of articles in the Boston Globe touts the generosity and quality of Boston Children’s hospital. But who is funding these articles…? More
Virginia’s “best” hospital sues 6,000 patients each year
The University of Virginia Medical Center is ranked as the "best" hospital in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report, but the hospital is among the worst when it comes to suing patients for unpaid medical bills. More
The life cycle of medical debt
Two stories in the recent news demonstrate how hospitals and debt collection agencies will go to extreme lengths to get the money they believe they are owed. More
Is high-tech always worth the high cost? Experts question Kansas City’s new proton beam machine
As the University of Kansas Hospital prepares to proudly unveil their new proton beam machine, they should also be preparing to answer some tough questions about the cost and effectiveness of this therapy. More
Which hospitals sue patients for unpaid medical bills?
It's not the hospitals you might expect... More
Misrepresenting midwifery: CBS story distorts picture of maternity care
A recent CBS "Whistleblower" segment misses the big picture on midwives and maternity care. More
The monopolization of health care goes beyond hospitals
We know that consolidation among hospitals and insurance companies leads to higher prices. But what about consolidation in other areas of health care? More
Preventing harm from unnecessary antihypertensives in the hospital
When a patient in the hospital has elevated blood pressure, but no other symptoms related to a hypertensive emergency, what should be the course of action? More
Hope, Hype, and Hospitals
What do advanced cancer patients expect from their clinicians and how does this affect their treatment? More
Why can’t we get real hospital prices?
Why can't we get better price transparency for health care services in hospitals? Because the "real" price doesn't exist... More
Community benefit spending not well defined or reported, investigation shows
An analysis by Modern Healthcare finds that reported spending on community benefits by hospitals leave out important information, and vary widely between hospitals across the country. More
Rankings revisited: What makes a hospital the “best”?
As the annual "best hospital" rankings have been released, we revisit our analysis of how hospitals get to be top-ranked. More
Do non-profit hospitals need another tax break?
Non-profit hospitals are finally being taxed on excessive CEO pay, but some are trying to find loopholes around the law. More
UPMC expansion won’t improve Pittsburgh’s community health
The Pittsburgh health system giant is putting profits over patients with their proposed expansion, say Shannon Brownlee and Vikas Saini. More
New report sheds light on hospital price variation
Ever wonder why you can't get a straight answer about how much a test or procedure in the hospital? This new report has answers. More