Attempting to analyze hospitals in particular, or healthcare in general, as if they were "normal" businesses is a fool's errand. "Who pays?" and "who benefits?"

Attempting to analyze hospitals in particular, or healthcare in general, as if they were "normal" businesses is a fool's errand. "Who pays?" and "who benefits?" are hopelessly complicated. And corrupt. As for the CEO salary: it's probably shaped by competition for those few slick operators who really understand how to milk the system.