by Blood Cancer United
Washington —To bring greater transparency to the complex world of hospitals, Blood Cancer United (formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) and the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR) today released “What to Ask (About) A Hospital,” a first-of-its-kind guide to understanding how hospital organization and financing structures differ across U.S. hospitals.
Hospitals provide essential healthcare but also account for the largest share of national health expenditures, driven by high prices that are paid by patients, consumers, employers, and governments. As policymakers seek to address rising healthcare spending while understanding the financial pressures on hospitals, they require a clearer understanding of the differences in how hospitals are structured and financed. This information has not been readily available in an easily accessible resource until now.
"'What to Ask (About) a Hospital' is a multipurpose tool for policymakers and others trying to navigate the complex and turbulent healthcare policy landscape,” said Christine Monahan, assistant research professor at CHIR. “We have sought to consolidate a wide array of previously scattered information and data points and organize them for readers in one easy-to-navigate guide."
“If we are going to move the needle on healthcare affordability, policymakers at all levels of government, researchers, journalists, advocates and patients need more clarity around how different segments of our healthcare system work – including hospitals,” said Katie Berge, senior director of Federal Government Affairs at Blood Cancer United. “’What to Ask (About) a Hospital’ demystifies hospitals so stakeholders can ask the right questions and get the information they need to advance policy that makes healthcare more affordable for Americans.”
The guide is organized into four components, each with underlying sections, so readers can easily find useful information, including:
- Questions to ask (about) a hospital, to better understand the regulatory structure, funding streams and other factors that influence business practices and financial status
- Hospital payment and accounting explainer, to understand how hospitals are paid for care, including via Medicaid, Medicare and commercial insurance plans.
- Key facts about hospitals, to provide readers with information on how programs classify hospitals, such as organizational form, type of care, geographic location, service of patients with low incomes, teaching status, and participation in alternative payment models.
- Where to find out more, to provide additional resources for readers, including links to more information on hospital ownership, regulatory and payment classifications, and finances, operations, and quality performance.
To access the full “What to Ask (About) a Hospital” guide, as well as individual sections and fact sheets, visit: https://chir.georgetown.edu/hospitalguide
For the standalone guide, visit: https://georgetown.box.com/v/hospital-guide
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About Blood Cancer United®
Blood Cancer United® (formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) is the largest global nonprofit focused on blood cancer patient support, research, and advocacy. The organization’s mission is to cure blood cancer and improve the quality of life of all patients and their families. To achieve it, Blood Cancer United brings together a community of people—patients and their families, volunteers, healthcare providers, scientists, staff, partners, fundraisers, and philanthropists—who believe all blood cancer patients deserve longer, fuller lives. For support and to learn more, visit www.BloodCancerUnited.org.
About the Center on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR)
The Center on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR) is an independent policy and research center at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy. Through real-world research, policy analysis, and practical advice, CHIR guides state and federal policymakers in advancing evidence-based solutions that strengthen health insurance, increase affordability, and improve access to care. Learn more at chir.georgetown.edu.