Hospitals for Universal Medical Coverage
The Federation for American Hospitals, the largest hospital operators in the U.S., are in favor of universal health insurance , according to Business Week.
The federation, made up of Universal Health Services Inc., Tenet Healthcare Corp., and health South Corp., wants the government to help pay for health care plans for low-income Americans. The proposed plan automatically enrolls low-income individuals and families, and those not eligible for public health programs but who can't afford to pay for medical coverage would receive subsidies to help them enroll in private health plans.
It's in the hospitals best interest for more people to be covered. "Their objective is very clear; they want more of their potential patients to have coverage," says Paul Ginsburg, president of Center for Studying Health System Change. Many hospitals have debt problems after treating patients who can't afford to pay.
Other large organizations, such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc., have gone to Washington to put more attention on health insurance reform. Hopefully these proposals will put pressure on politicians to make it part of their platforms.
Providing affordable medical coverage is receiving national attention because 47 million Americans aren't insured. Sarah Berk, executive director of Health Care America, says, "There is enough money in our health care system, so it's a matter of how we spend it."
The federation, made up of Universal Health Services Inc., Tenet Healthcare Corp., and health South Corp., wants the government to help pay for health care plans for low-income Americans. The proposed plan automatically enrolls low-income individuals and families, and those not eligible for public health programs but who can't afford to pay for medical coverage would receive subsidies to help them enroll in private health plans.
It's in the hospitals best interest for more people to be covered. "Their objective is very clear; they want more of their potential patients to have coverage," says Paul Ginsburg, president of Center for Studying Health System Change. Many hospitals have debt problems after treating patients who can't afford to pay.
Other large organizations, such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc., have gone to Washington to put more attention on health insurance reform. Hopefully these proposals will put pressure on politicians to make it part of their platforms.
Providing affordable medical coverage is receiving national attention because 47 million Americans aren't insured. Sarah Berk, executive director of Health Care America, says, "There is enough money in our health care system, so it's a matter of how we spend it."
