Rep. Kucinich’s criticism comes after MetroHealth System announced 450 job cuts due to high levels of uncompensated care. He released a report of regional hospital providers’ levels of uncompensated care, arguing Cleveland Clinic should have provided $44 million more in uncompensated care from 2006-2009. By comparison, MetroHealth and University Hospitals provided $20 million and $23 million “more than their fair share” in uncompensated care during that time, according to the report.
Cleveland Clinic officials have fired back, arguing Rep. Kucinich only takes uncompensated care into account when measuring community benefits and overlooks the provider’s level of education and research, according to the report.
Rep. Kucinich has asked for a meeting with leaders from Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth and University Hospitals to discuss the issue.
Related Articles on Community Benefits:
Montana Hospitals Increasing Charity Care, Bad Debt
Ohio Hospitals Provided $2.9B in Community Benefits in 2009
Scripps, Sharp Healthcare in California Spent Joint $674M in Community Benefits
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