Amid reports of consolidations and staffing crises, we ask: What is the future of the U.S. hospital industry? A team of experts joins us as we weigh this question and consider its implications for Connecticut.
Later, we discuss the role of crowdfunding platforms in helping alleviate the burden of medical expenses. Have you ever turned to GoFundMe or a similar site to finance the cost of treatment? We want to hear from you.
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GUESTS:
- Jay Hancock - Senior correspondent for Kaiser Health News (@jayhancock1)
- Dr. John Rodis - President of St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center
- Vincent G. Capece, Jr. - CEO and President of Middlesex Hospital
- Angela Mattie - Professor in the Department of Healthcare Management and Organizational Leadership at Quinnipiac University
- Tom Kise - Director of Public Affairs at the United States of Care
READING LIST:
Kaiser Health News: How Below-The-Radar-Mergers Fuel Health Care Monopolies - "Research published Tuesday throws new light on the trend, showing that large doctor practices, many owned by hospitals, exceed federal guidelines for market concentration in more than a fifth of the areas studied."
The Connecticut Mirror: Small community hospitals struggle to avoid a downward spiral - "With fewer patients, the community hospitals lose bargaining leverage with insurers when negotiating payment rates. And with fewer patients and lower payment rates, the hospitals struggle to invest in programs, staff, marketing or the infrastructure needed to adapt to the changing health care system."
Fast Company: GoFundMe doesn’t want to be a social safety net -- but it is - "In 2017, one-third of the money that the site raised globally went to campaigns that users categorized as medical-related. The total dollar amount of that is unclear, but since its inception in 2010, the company has reportedly enabled more than 50 million donors to raise $5 billion for various causes."
Chion Wolf contributed to this show.
