WASHINGTON – Despite being tax-exempt, nonprofit hospitals around the country are engaging in practices that put profits over patients. Recent findings from the Rand Corporation (RAND), Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, PatientRightsAdvocate.org, and Lown Institute reveal Colorado nonprofit hospital practices that are at odds with what the public expects from charitable hospitals, including charging patients out-of-control prices and consistently making sky-high profits.

In a statement, Consumers for Quality Care (CQC) said: “In Colorado, nonprofit hospitals must uphold their end of the bargain when it comes to serving their communities. Despite qualifying for millions in tax breaks, nonprofit hospitals across the state are raking in record profits and continuing to pursue acquisitions and mergers that leave patients to deal with higher costs. Hospitals are also failing to comply with federal price transparency rules, preventing Coloradans from being able to shop smart. These nonprofit hospitals must be held accountable and put people first to serve all of Colorado.”