5 ms·
Hospitals don't have to accept Medicare or Medicaid patients. If they are truly losing money on them, then why do they accept them?
by TazeTSchnitzel 8y ago
Hospitals don't have to accept Medicare or Medicaid patients. If they are truly losing money on them, then why do they accept them?
- razakel 8y ago>Hospitals don't have to accept Medicare or Medicaid patients. An emergency room has to treat anyone until they're stable, regardless of their means to pay. You don't exactly have time to shop around for an affordable doctor if you've just had a heart attack. Why do you think medical debt is a key reason for 2/3rds of US bankruptcies?
- chrisgd 8y agoTurning away patients and accepting payment are two different things
- mises 8y agoA patient is accepted, cared for, and cannot pay. The patient has medicare. Would you, as a hospital, refuse any payment; or would you take what you could get (medicare)? A below-market rate is bad, but nothing is worse.
- mercutio2 8y agoWhile I’m philosophically aligned with the medical-expenses-lead-to-bankruptcies narrative, it’s worth noting that the 2/3 number is based on a drastic overcounting of people’s reported expenses. If I mention a $500 hospital bill, but put $50,000 on credit cards for run of the mill spending beyond my means, I get counted in that 2/3rds.
- conanbatt 8y agoThey have to. Lots of federal funding and rules are placed so that happens.