Catholic systems account for four of the nation’s ten biggest systems, according to a 2020 report. They usually follow guides from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which enforces ethical and religious directives on reproductive products, including birth control pills, IUDs and procedures, such as tubal ligation and vasectomies.
Hospitals that have been briefly owned by Catholic systems sometimes continue abiding by such reproductive guidelines long after ownership changes, according to NPR, which can further confuse patients.
In some areas, Catholic hospitals are the only locations within a 45-minute drive.
“After all this consolidation, this is where it shakes out, where we’ve got about 40 percent of reproductive age women living in areas with high or dominant Catholic hospital market share,” Marian Jarlenski, PhD, a health policy researcher at the University of Pittsburgh, told NPR.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
