Mr. Umbdenstock said hospitals must maintain costly “stand-by capacity,” like emergency rooms, and spread those costs around to other types of services, such as outpatient care. For many types of outpatient treatments that are not available from local physician’s offices or clinics, hospitals “represent the only place that those who cannot afford lifesaving healthcare, especially the elderly and poor, can turn to in times of need,” he wrote.
“Cutting payment for hospital facility fees could threaten vital patient care,” he added.
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