U.S. Hospitals See Unequal Financial Hit and Relief During COVID

CIDRAP

A trio of recent studies have shed new light on the disparities facing hospitals in the wake of COVID-19. One study published in JAMA Health Forum focuses on fund allocation, finding that a disproportionate amount of federal relief funds went to the already best-equipped facilities, among other details related to average funding amounts, total funds distributed, and questions about fund allocation policy. Other studies focused on long-term financial impact across the healthcare industry, including losses from canceled elective procedures and reduced capacity. These studies are also a call for future planning and operational assessment.