November 23, Wisconsin Health News

Wisconsin hospitals spent $1.7 billion in 2015 to support programs and services that had a positive impact in the communities they serve, according to a new report produced by the Wisconsin Hospital Association.

That includes more than $1 billion they lost caring for patients in the Medicaid program. They also lost $1.6 billion on Medicare.

Hospitals reported spending $65 million on activities and programs aimed at improving community health.  They spent $177 million on graduate medical education for physicians and nearly $12 million on education and clinical experiences for nurses.

The 14 hospitals that operate nursing homes reported losses totaling nearly $13 million, a slight decrease from 2014.

Charity care was also down, from $278 million in 2014 to $176 million last year. That’s despite a 21 percent increase in the number of patient visits that qualified for free care, from 1.3 million to 1.6 million.

“The fact that there were more cases, and the cost decreased, may reflect the fact that more services are provided in the less costly outpatient setting than in the hospital, which is consistent with what we are seeing with all patient care,” according to Brian Potter, a senior vice president at WHA.

Potter also said that while more people have gained coverage, many patients still struggle to meet their co-pays and deductibles. “That continues to be a real concern for hospitals,” he said.

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