Here are four things to know about the rise in uncompensated care costs, according to a study from Richmond-based Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.
1. Uncompensated care costs increased from 6 percent of Virginia hospital costs in 2008 to 6.9 percent in 2013.
2. Approximately 50 percent of all hospital uncompensated care costs in Virginia are incurred by 10 hospitals, or 10 percent of all acute care hospitals in the state.
3. Virginia is one of about 20 states that has not expanded Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Researchers found that expanding Medicaid would help 268,000 people gain coverage by 2016 and cut uncompensated care costs by $284 million annually.
4. More information on the study can be found here.
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