The Missouri Hospital Association found hospitals' uncompensated care costs grew by $37 million in 2016 compared to the year prior.
MHA's annual Community Investment Report examines community benefit and economic data of Missouri hospitals. The analysis revealed hospitals provided $719 million in charity care in 2016. When including the $538 million in bad debt hospitals accrued during the same year, Missouri hospitals shouldered $1.26 billion in uncompensated care in 2016.
"In 2015, for the first time in a decade, hospitals experienced a decline in uncompensated care costs," Herb Kuhn, MHA President and CEO, said. "The 2016 data indicate that gains in health insurance coverage, a stronger economy and higher employment rate shifted, rather than reduced, the cost of uncompensated care."
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