Hospitals Have Argued That Flurry Of Mergers Benefits Patients’ Wallets. But In Many Cases They End Up Paying More.
A New York Times analysis looks at the financial impact of hospital consolidation. The new research confirms growing skepticism among consumer health groups and lawmakers about the enormous clout of such hospital groups.
The New York Times:
When Hospitals Merge To Save Money, Patients Often Pay More
The nation’s hospitals have been merging at a rapid pace for a decade, forming powerful organizations that influence nearly every health care decision consumers make. The hospitals have argued that consolidation benefits consumers with cheaper prices from coordinated services and other savings. But an analysis conducted for The New York Times shows the opposite to be true in many cases. (Abelson, 11/14)
