Across the country and here in Colorado, hospitals are buying independent physician practices, driving up prices and insurance costs. As a physician, this trend troubles me, and it’s only going to get worse without action. That’s why, as Congress aims to enact health care reforms as well as pass government funding bills in the next few weeks, they should include measures to ensure patients pay the same price for the same health care services.
Hospital consolidation is happening everywhere we look these days. Between 1998 and 2022, there were more than 1,800 hospital mergers in the U.S. In 2022, Colorado-based SCL Health merged with Intermountain Health, and CommonSpirit Health acquired Fort Morgan’s St. Elizabeth Hospital. Just last month, UCHealth merged with Parkview Health System.
But hospitals aren’t just buying other hospitals, they’re also buying up independent physicians’ offices and clinics. In fact, over half of physicians are now currently employed by hospitals and health systems.
Read more here: https://coloradonewsline.com/2024/02/07/congress-should-ensure-patients-pay-same-price-for-same-health-care-service/
