SITE and FAIR methods have drawbacks
The letter to the editor, “Congress should support the FAIR Act to protect patients,” published on Nov. 20, states that the SITE Act and the FAIR Act will reduce patient access to “affordable” care. claimed to protect. In reality, these policies will reduce payments to hospitals by billions of dollars, forcing many hospitals to reduce services or permanently close.
Hospitals are the foundation of healthy communities. We provide care 24/7, regardless of a patient's ability to pay. However, many hospitals are facing serious financial difficulties.half of our country's hospitals suffered a loss last year. More than 40% negative margin.Three of his Ohio hospitals ranked nationally Top 100 operating losses last year.
The authors point out that consolidation in the medical sector is a contributing factor to higher costs. However, this trend is not being driven by hospitals, but by private equity and commercial insurance companies.almost Three quarters of physician acquisition Created by private equity firms and insurance companies between 2019 and 2023. Only 6% were from hospitals. When a private insurance company buys a doctor's practice, costs go up. Big insurers are looking at higher profits, while the rest are struggling to meet costs.
Cutting payments to hospitals will not solve these problems, nor will it address other underlying factors that drive up patient costs, such as historic inflation, rising drug prices, and worker shortages. Hospital medical costs from 2019 to 2022 17.5% increase, a more than double increase in hospital reimbursement from Medicare. Cutting payments further would be a further insult. Many hospitals may be forced to reduce services or close. That would make it harder for Ohioans to receive quality care.
On behalf of hospitals in northwest Ohio, I urge Ohio legislators to vote against these hospital cuts and address the real factors driving up health care costs, such as consolidation by private equity firms and insurance companies. I urge you to focus on
pamela jensen
Chairman of the Northwest Ohio Hospital Board
News Messenger/News Herald
