While Hamilton County, Ohio, Considers Tax Levy for Indigent Health, Doctor Charges that Local Hospitals ‘Profit’ From Charity Care

The Hamilton County, Ohio, Tax Levy Review Committee is considering a proposal to place a $217 million indigent care levy on the ballot, but a local doctor is saying the county's hospitals are actually profiting by providing "uncompensated" care for the uninsured, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. In presenting a study of the county's current tax levy to the committee, Dr. Kevin Martin, a vascular surgeon and former committee member, said that over five years, University Hospital earned $68.9 million and Children's Hospital earned $2.4 million by providing indigent care. He said the facilities were able to profit because of the federal Hospital Care Assurance Program, which has provided more than $147 million to the hospitals since 1996. Moreover, the Enquirer reports that the federal funding is in addition to $178.5 million "generated" by local taxpayers through the current tax levy. Hospital executives, however, "den[ied]" that the facilities were profiting from indigent services. Al Tuchfarber, a spokeperson for University Hospital, said that Martin's report did not include costs such as doctors fees and "take home" prescription expenses. "HCAP is a block grant to cover costs of providing indigent care not covered by local funds. That's the purpose of it." He added that not increasing the levy would be a "medical catastrophe." The proposed tax levy would increase the current tax by 21%. The Enquirer reports that the committee has hired an auditor to "examine the issue" and will make recommendations on the levy amount in July (Klepal, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6/26).