CQC Nonprofit Hospital Scorecard: Kentucky Nonprofit Hospitals Earn a #HospitalFail

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Despite being tax-exempt, nonprofit hospitals across the country are making big money at the expense of their patients. The Kentucky Hospital Scorecard was created based on recent findings from the Lown Institute, Kaiser Health News, and other organizations and publications about troubling practices at hospitals in Kentucky. These practices are at odds with what the public expects from charitable organizations, especially since Kentucky nonprofit hospitals collectively receive hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks each year.

In response to these troubling findings, Consumers for Quality Care (CQC) released the following statement:

“Across the country, nonprofit hospitals are putting profits over patients, and unfortunately, Kentucky is no exception to this troubling national trend. The tax breaks Kentucky’s nonprofit hospitals receive are much more than what they spend on charity care and community benefits. Many hide their prices from patients while overcharging for medical procedures. Some of Kentucky’s nonprofits have policies that allow what can only be described as aggressive debt collection practices. At every turn, these hospitals are letting everyday Kentuckians down, choosing not to live up to their missions as charitable organizations. Kentuckians deserve better. We need accountability now.”

Visit CQC’s Nonprofit Hospital Scorecards here.