The diagnosis for Pennsylvania hospitals continues to look bleak as deteriorating economic factors keep the state's healthcare organizations in critical condition.
On the heels of another study highlighting the poor financial health of hospitals and health systems here, the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP)
warns that access to high-quality healthcare is being threatened.
Market indicators that allude to how thin the ice is for hospitals and health systems include:
- income from operations (operating margin) fell to near zero, dropping 2.78 points in two years;
- 40% of the state's hospitals lost money in 1999, compared to 30% in 1998; and
- uncompensated care rose nearly 10% to $834 million -- almost 5% of net patient revenue.
(HAP, Roger H. Baumgarten, 717/561-5342)