Bad Debt Increasing in Minnesota Hospitals

In fiscal 2013, health systems here reported about $687 million in bad debt, which was about 2.5 percent of the health systems’ combined revenue of $27.7 billion. For fiscal 2014, the Star Tribune analysis found bad debt grew to $766 million, a larger tally that grew faster than overall revenue. Some of the systems operate on the ­calendar year, and some end fiscal years on June 30.

Preliminary figures from the Minnesota Hospital Association show a roughly 3.2 percent increase in bad debt for state hospitals last year, as well as a nearly 10 percent decline in charity care. The net effect is that uncompensated care costs held roughly steady last year, according to the hospital association.

Moving the process UpFront with Enablemyhealth makes all the difference to let patient's know the estimate out of pocket costs and work with the hospital to arrange a payment plan. Validated patient insurance information is easily shared across groups and hospitals, reducing the costs for everyone. 

Check out the full article:

http://www.startribune.com/unpaid-hospital-bills-still-growing-in-minnesota/306704981/