The cost of uncompensated hospital care in the United States totaled $31.2 billion in 2006, up from $28.8 billion in 2005 and $21.6 billion in 2000, according to the latest data from the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Annual Survey of Hospitals. Underpayment by Medicare and Medicaid reached nearly $30 billion in 2006, up from $25.3 billion in 2005 and $4 billion in 2000. Medicare reimbursed 91 cents and Medicaid reimbursed 86 cents for every dollar hospitals spent caring for these patients. AHA president and CEO Rich Umbdenstock said the data “show what we’ve been hearing from the field--that hospitals are seeing more and more patients while future financing is uncertain, emergency departments continue to be overcrowded, and fewer workers are available to provide care.” Access the data.
