Jan. 7 — U.S. hospitals’ uncompensated care rose $1.8 billion in 2011 compared with 2010, according to new data from the Annual Survey of Hospitals by the American Hospital Association (AHA). For the 4,973 hospitals surveyed, uncompensated care in 2011 totaled $41.1 billion and accounted for 5.9 percent of total expenses, per the data. 

The 2011 total includes bad debt and charity care services, but not Medicaid or Medicare underpayment. Since 2000, hospitals of all types have provided more than $367 billion in uncompensated care to their patients.

For useful guidance on properly reporting charity care and bad debt, see HFMA’s revised Statement 15.

Publication Date: Monday, January 07, 2013