High-markup hospitals linked to worse patient outcomes, study finds.
High-markup hospitals charge up to 17x care costs, with worse patient outcomes.
Why it matters
- High-markup hospitals (HMH) charge significantly more than other hospitals.
- Patients at HMH face greater complications and readmission risks.
- This raises concerns about healthcare fairness and transparency.
By the numbers
- HMH charge up to 17x the cost of care, vs. 3x at other hospitals.
- About 10% of hospitals are HMH.
- Patients at HMH have 45% greater odds of complications and 33% higher readmission risk.
The big picture
- Higher prices do not mean better care; in fact, outcomes are worse at HMH.
- Most HMH are for-profit and located in large metropolitan areas.
What they're saying
- Commenters suggest policy changes to regulate hospital pricing and address profiteering.
- Some highlight the need for transparency in healthcare pricing.
Caveats
- Study limitations include lack of comprehensive pricing data and geographic variation info.
- More research is needed to understand why outcomes are worse at HMH.
What’s next
- Policies for price transparency and regulation are needed.
- Further research to understand the reasons behind worse outcomes at HMH.