In addition to providing more financial assistance to uninsured patients during the recession, many hospitals are seeing increases in bad debt associated with changes in health plans (such as higher co-payments, deductibles, and co-insurances) that shift more health care costs to patients. DVHC and member hospitals have formed a Bad Debt Workgroup to gauge trends in regional hospitals’ charity care and bad debt, and to learn more about hospital charity care and collection practices. To support these efforts, hospital chief financial officers have been asked to return by July 8 an online survey about their hospitals’ bad debt and charity care.

As one of 32 state legislators nationwide selected to help President Obama reform health care, Representative Josh Shapiro (D-Montgomery) this week hosted at Holy Redeemer Hospital the first in a series of conversations to be held statewide with hospital leaders and other health care stakeholders. Hospital administrators and physicians shared experiences and thoughts related to the national health care agenda. These conversations will provide input for an executive white paper to be shared with the Obama administration.