Dive Brief:
- According to a Miami Herald report, Nashville, Tennessee-based Hospital Corporation of America has said that it will no longer charge uninsured patients trauma fees.
- HCA's announcement follows the publication of a year-long investigative series from the Tampa Bay Times that found that HCA's Florida hospitals had been charging very high trauma fees.
- The investigation of HCA found that the company, which operates six trauma centers in the state, was charging trauma care patients, including the uninsured, an average bill of almost $125,000—$40,000 more other trauma centers in Florida, the Times reported.
Dive Insight:
There may be other hospitals that waive trauma fees for the uninsured, but certainly not many. HCA's decision to do so stands out nationally as what one would hope is a gesture of goodwill towards community. That's especially the case because HCA is a for-profit entity and doesn't need to impress the IRS with community benefit activity. Hopefully, other hospitals will follow HCA's lead, as there's no point mourning the credit of an uninsured trauma victim who likely won't ever be able to pay off these fees.