WASHINGTON, DC – After today’s House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight hearing on tax-exempt hospital spending on expenses unrelated to community benefits, Better Solutions for Healthcare Executive Director Connie Partoyan released the following statement:
“If corporate hospitals want to keep their tax breaks, they need to prove they’re committed to the true intention of the policy. The number of tax-exempt hospitals that fall short of their fair share obligations is staggering. For too long these hospitals have put profits ahead of patients, and we applaud the Committee for their focus on the issue.”
The Lown Institute’s latest report on tax-exempt hospitals found 80% of the 2,425 evaluated spent less on charity care than they received in tax breaks. This comes as the American public cites healthcare affordability as a top concern and employers next year will face the largest price increase in over 15 years.
Additionally, the Lown Institute found the ten hospitals with the largest “fair share” deficit generated at least $100 million in net income.
Better Solutions for Healthcare also submitted a letter for the record to the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight.
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