Healthcare Finance
Hospital consolidation, particularly the acquisition of ambulatory facilities, outpatient centers, and physician practices, is resulting in increased consumer costs according to a 2023 report from Georgetown University. In reviewing the laws and regulations of 11 states, as well as 40 qualitative interviews conducted between November 2022 and April 2023, the Georgetown team found that consolidated services result in additional facility fees, increased confusion among patients, and higher premiums, among other issues. These findings are part of a larger trend that has both healthcare professionals and patients concerned about future reform, with interviewees noting that restrictions on facility fees would lead to meaningful savings for consumers without constraints on provider reimbursement.
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